New library app aims to make borrowing books even easier
A new app has been launched by the Guille-Alles Library which aims to make borrowing books even easier for its members, as well as giving them access to a range of other services.
As well allowing people to renew their book loans from home, it also lets them check books out straight off the shelves, avoiding the need to queue for the machines downstairs.
Adam Bayfield, the library's head of marketing and customer services, said parents with young children should find this particularly useful since they can scan books – up to 12 per library card holder – and leave, without having to keep an eye on children while checking the books out.
‘On the app you can link your children’s library accounts to your own, so if you’re a parent or carer you can easily keep track of what the whole family’s borrowed,’ he said.
As well as dealing with physical books, the app also gives access to the library’s e-book and audio book loaning services, and has links to apps which allow customers to watch films and read newspapers and magazines using apps which the library has offered for some time.
‘It brings everything together so you can easily jump off to things like BorrowBox and PressReader,’ said Mr Bayfield.
‘It will also hopefully bring people’s attention to things they didn’t know about.’
PressReader, which allows users to read magazines and newspapers, has proven a particularly popular app, with 115,458 downloads last year, a rise of 31% over 2023.
BorrowBox gives access to e-books and audiobooks and last year saw 4,109 registered users – a rise of 21% – and there were 27,484 digital loans, up 27%.
The main library has 20,405 members and loaned 104,840 books last year.
Other features of the app include the new and notable lists of book recommendations curated by the library team, plus easy access to the collections of the island’s other libraries, the Priaulx and the Guernsey Institute.
Meanwhile, the ‘does the library have this?’ feature allows users to scan the barcode on the back of any book to check if the library has a copy and if so, reserve it.
‘We want to improve the experience of people using our library, but you don’t have to use the app. It’s entirely optional,’ said Mr Bayfield.
The app was created by UK firm Solus and is based on one which is used by other libraries. Mr Bayfield said the library had wanted it for a long time.
Sponsorship provided by JT has helped meet the costs.
The app can be downloaded from the Apple App or Google Play stores by searching ‘Guernsey Library’. People can find out more about the app, and enjoy free biscuits, at an official launch event at the library on Saturday morning from 9am to noon. For more information go to www.library.gg/app.
