Libraries

City of Sanctuary statement of support

We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists. We'll facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group.

We are willing for our organisation’s name being added to a list of supporters of City of Sanctuary, linked to our website. We're also willing to be contacted by City of Sanctuary with further ideas for how we can turn our support into practical action and to discuss ways we might work together to promote the vision further.

Libraries of Sanctuary is a network of librarians, library staff, community groups and book lovers who are raising awareness of the issues facing people in the asylum system. It offers support and participation opportunities, and contributing to a culture of welcome in the wider community.

Barnsley Libraries are currently working towards our Library of Sanctuary Award application. The award recognises and celebrates the libraries that go above and beyond to show solidarity and welcome.

Joining the library

• Anyone can join Barnsley Libraries for free by filling in an online form or visiting one of our libraries.
• We ask to see ID (a letter with your name and address on it, or a Home Office card) to complete your membership. You can also join with no ID on a temporary basis.
• Temporary membership means you'll only be able to borrow two books at a time and your library membership will last three months. After the three months we'll ask to see proof of name and address so that we can give you a full library membership. This will allow you to borrow more books.
• With your library card you can borrow books and use library computers, print and photocopy. This is all free. You'll also be able to borrow eBooks, audiobooks and digital newspapers - all free too!
• If you’re under the age of 16 you’ll need a guarantor to sign for you. This can be a parent or guardian.
• You can use your library card in all the libraries across Barnsley.

Books and reading

• You can borrow up to 10 children’s books on a child’s library card and up to 20 adult books on an adult’s library card. You can also borrow up to 10 children’s books on an adult’s library card, along with the 20 adult books.
• You can borrow a library book for up to three weeks, but if no-one else has requested it you can renew it up to 10 times.
• There are no fines for books that are returned late.
• We have books for children and adults in different languages. These include:
  • Spanish
  • Ukrainian
  • Polish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Kurdish
• We also have dual language picture books for families written in two languages (English and another language).
• Our dual language picture books can be found in the children’s library. Our books for adults in different languages can be found on the ground floor of Library @ the Lightbox.
• You can ask any of our friendly staff for help finding books.
• You can search for and request books on our online catalogue.

Find out more about borrowing books and reading.

Free WiFi and internet access

• There are computers in all our libraries to use for free.
• You can connect to public WiFi on your own device in all of our libraries. You don’t need a library card to connect to our free WiFi.
• Printing and photocopying is free.
• You can ask any of our friendly staff for help to connect to WiFi or use the printer, photocopier or computers.
• We can help people who don’t have access to the internet by providing free SIM cards with mobile data.

Find out more about our digital services.

Online resources

• We offer lots of great online resources for free.
• You need a library card to access our online resources.
• Libby is our eBook and eAudio app. Using your library card you can borrow and listen to books and magazines for free anywhere.
• Libby has the option to choose a language to help you use the app. There are also eBooks in other languages.
• Press Reader is included in our Libby app and offers up to date eNewspapers from all around the world for free.
• Our library staff are happy to show you our online resources and to help you access them on your device or on a library computer.

Find out more about eBooks, eAudio and online resources.

Events and regular activities

• We offer lots of regular groups and activities in our libraries.
• All our regular activities are open and free for everyone to join.
• We have regular activities for children and families and activities for adults.
• You don’t need an invite to come along to our activities and groups. Tou can just come along on the day.
• You don’t need to be a library member or have a library card to join in our activities and groups.
• We also offer lots of free one-off events. Many of these need to be booked in advance online.

Volunteering

• We welcome volunteers in our libraries and know the skills and experience that people seeking sanctuary bring to our team.
• You can volunteer to spend time in our libraries gaining skills, confidence and meeting new people.
• You can volunteer to do lots of different things in our libraries. This might be helping with events, activities and groups, or helping with tasks like shelving books and creating book displays.
• When you volunteer in our libraries you'll get to know the library team and our customers.
• We're flexible – it’s fine if you just want to volunteer for a one-off event, or if you want to volunteer every week! If you have to stop volunteering for a while, you can start again at a later time when you’re ready.
• If you are interested in volunteering with us, apply to be a volunteer using our online form. We'll contact you to find out more about how volunteering would be useful to you and we'll explain the opportunities that we have.