Wealth of free information and resources launched in time for Get Online Week and Blackburn Central Library’s 50th anniversary
Blackburn with Darwen Library Service has launched a new website boasting useful information and free online resources for use by local people.
Homepage of the new Blackburn Library Service website
The launch coincides with Get Online Week, a nationwide initiative to tackle digital exclusion and help more people access the advantages of the online world.
What’s more, this week also marks the 50th anniversary of Blackburn Library being in its present home.
It was originally part of the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery building, but growing demand meant it needed more space. In 1975, it moved into the former Co-Operative Emporium department store. On October 17 that year, Prime Minister Harold Wilson joined Barbara Castle, MP for Blackburn, to officially open the library in its new home.
The new website includes library opening times and contact details for all five libraries in Blackburn with Darwen. Digital resources include the BorrowBox app, enabling library members to access e-books, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines online, even from home. There are also language-learning platforms and the online archive ‘Cotton Town’, which celebrates Blackburn with Darwen’s rich industrial and cultural heritage.
A ‘What’s On’ guide details the more than 40 activities held each week, including reading clubs, digital workshops, live performances and IT classes. Special events are also taking place this week for Get Online Week – see the new site at www.bwdlibraries.com.
Adele Karwat, Service Manager for Libraries and Archives at Blackburn with Darwen Council, says: ‘Our library service has come an incredibly long way – especially in the 50 years since Blackburn Central Library opened in Town Hall Street. Back then, around 400 people a day were registering as members, and the focus was very much on books.
‘Of course, books are still a big part of who we are today, but our offer is now much broader and ever developing. We host more than 40 different sessions every week across our libraries – everything from digital workshops to family-friendly activities. We’re also home to vital community services including Shelter, Age UK and Care Network, and residents can access an incredible range of online resources completely free of charge.
‘People are often shocked and really pleasantly surprised by how much they can access for free with a library membership. Our BorrowBox service is especially popular – offering e-books, audiobooks, daily newspapers and magazines without charge. We’re also proud to host Cotton Town, which attracts visitors from around the world, and in our libraries, we also offer access to the likes of Ancestry UK and even tools to help with driving theory test revision.’
Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth and Development at Blackburn with Darwen Council, adds: ‘We know just how loved and well-used our libraries are. The new website is a brilliant showcase of everything they offer – from the packed “What’s On” guide to the fantastic digital resources and community support.
‘For generations, libraries have been at the very heart of our communities, and now residents can enjoy even more of what they offer from home too, important as we know just how busy people are. This Get Online Week is the perfect time to explore the new website and see what’s available. I hope residents will give it a try and make the most of it.’
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