smallhobbit | 25 Things in 2025: Thing #5

Use Library Plus

Last Sunday both J and I had books to return as they were finished - that's easy, there's a book return slot outside the library for that very purpose. However, J also wanted to read the next book in the series, which I knew was available in our local library.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out Library Plus, which enables readers, who have signed up to the system, to access the library outside staffed hours. It's not 24 hours a day, but it is available first thing in the morning, early evenings and on Sunday during the day. So, being brave, I decided to see if I could get in. I think I had my library card upside down in the card reader near the main door, but I could still key my membership number in plus my code. And the door opened! It's only opened for 10 seconds but that is quite long enough to walk inside without getting hit by the door closing. The lights and the machines were on, so I returned our books, found J's new book and departed. Success!

I won't be using it very often. Most of the time I'll be quite happy to walk to the library at times when it's open, which will get some exercise as well. But it does mean, when I have a new reservation in, I shall now have greater options to collect it.