Following the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, you can once again browse the shelves and select books as well as return and reserve items. Computers are available to pre-book, and study space and Job Pods for online job interviews are available at selected libraries.

You can reserve up to 10 items with existing and new library loans extended until June 30.

All East Sussex libraries are Covid-secure and have reopened with measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety including new layouts to encourage social distancing, limited visitor numbers, and increased cleaning.

Books are quarantined for 72 hours upon return and for the time being newspapers will only be available online. Computers are cleaned and the keyboard covers replaced between each session.

Library events will be returning over the coming months, with activities planned for all ages. Full details and ticket information will be available in the June eNewsletter.

Visitors to council libraries are reminded to wear a face covering, unless exempt, and to sanitise their hands when entering and leaving the building.

For library locations and opening hours, and for more information on library services including the eLibrary and ‘select and collect’, please visit our website or call 0345 60 80 196.

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place this May, and East Sussex Libraries are thrilled to be hosting our first ever Wellbeing Weekend, 14^th-15^th May.

All weekend we are hosting events such as, creative writing; rambling and yoga, to help support your mental health.  There will also be lots of advice, activities and wellbeing tips on our webpage, and Facebook for the whole of May.

Events are free but some have limited spaces so book your place today.

In January 2021 East Sussex Libraries were proud to launch the Periodbank at Eastbourne and Hastings Libraries, offering free, donated period products to anyone who needs them.

Over lockdown we have worked with refuge centres, homeless charities, and other targeted groups in the community.  Our pre-packed bags are available for anyone in the community who needs them with no questions asked.

Period Poverty affects 1 in 7 girls and women in the UK with many missing work and school because they cannot afford period products.

We are thrilled with the positive feedback we’ve received from the community so far.

Donations have been gratefully received from Eastbourne Hygiene Bank, The Red Box Project and Hey Girls, with funding from Plan UK.

How you can help?

After the success of the launch of this project, we are now in need of more period product donations. Donation containers are in Eastbourne and Hastings library and we would be grateful for any unopened period products that you can give.

https://www.creativefuture.org.uk/We’re delighted to have teamed up with Public Health and to be working with the East Sussex cultural sector to support sections of the population who are finding Covid restrictions particularly difficult.

One of the initiatives is focused on people who have become unemployed or furloughed and this project is led by Creative Future,offering a varied programme of free artist-led activity including creative writing, photography and life coaching.

The free workshops are a brilliant opportunity for people to overcome anxiety, re-focus and be inspired at a time that is extremely challenging for seeking employment.

You can find the full list of events and book a free place here on Creative Futures Eventbrite page.

Audiobook ‘The Other Woman’ by Sandie Jones, is exclusive to Borrowbox.

This is a chilling psychological thriller about a man, his new girlfriend, and the mother who will not let him go.  Jones takes the familiar obsessive character from Fatal Attraction and makes that person the parent.

The set up is similar to the romantic comedy ‘Monster in Law’ but with a dark and vengeful twist. – chosen and enjoyed by Abby