IN DEPTH ‘‘
Jon Fortgang, Community Library Officer, Hackney Libraries.
Many of our older users don’t have easy access to the internet or digital technology. To address that, we’ll shortly start lending tablets to targeted users... so that customers can access the NHS app and other online library services.
Hackney Community Library Service: 2024 CILIP Disability Network Accessibility Award
Hackney Community Library Service won the inaugural Disability Network Accessibility Award. Here Jon Fortgang talks to Information Professional about the service’s winning home visit project that is helping more people access the books they love.
HACKNEY’S home-visit Community Library Service has four members of staff: a Manager (who is also Head of Volunteering across the library service) and three full-time Commu- nity Library Officers, all of whom undertake deliveries in our two electric vans. Based at Stamford Hill Library in east London, our commitment to community support and outreach means we regularly host part-time volunteers who help with basic stock man- agement and shelving. Any Hackney resident can use the service, but our primary focus is on those who cannot access a physical library because of an accident, illness, frailty, or disabil- ity. Full-time carers are also welcome to use the service, either for themselves or those they care for. At the moment we have just over 300 users, all of whom receive a carefully selected monthly delivery based on their specific requirements. As well as visit- ing individual residents in their homes, we deliver to 23 sheltered housing units, 30 nurseries, St Joseph’s Hospice and Homerton Hospital.
In 2024 we racked up a total of 3,432 home visits, issuing nearly 80,000 items. These include our own extensive stock of large print books, audiobooks, CDs (and CD players to play them on), DVDs and puzzles. We’ve recently invested in our demen- tia-friendly collection, and users’ families tell us how important these items are in maintaining a connec- tion with loved ones suffering cognitive decline.
34 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
Hackney Community Library staff, from left: Jon Fortgang, Jana Bondoian and Edward Peacock.
Expanding the service
Many of our older users don’t have easy access to the internet or digital technology. To address that, we’ll shortly start lending tablets to targeted users, and staff will provide basic coaching so that custom- ers can access the NHS app and other online library services.
We also run outreach events in sheltered housing units, partnering with Hackney-based collective Output Arts, whose sessions blend art activity with reminiscence. For International Women’s Day in
Winter 2025
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