Online Library Bright and Easy

They call it “the fifth branch” of Tasman District’s libraries, but the upgraded website gives the added benefit of bright and easy-to-use access to the other four branches – from the comfort of your lounge.

“We tried to make it so people can do more of their library business online,” says Libraries Manager Glennis Coote. Under the Browse category, for instance, booklovers can see new titles (including music and DVDs), plus recommendations by library staff arranged under genre, award-winners etc. All the material that takes your fancy can be reserved online.

The e-Library section takes you to downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, newspapers from across the globe, and an A to Z of resources, which are also arranged by subject. It can even steer you to funding bodies for scholarships or community projects.

If you are curious about family history, make the site’s Heritage section your starting point, using cemetery records, ships registers and military records. Glennis says the only databases restricted to library-only access are Find My Past and Ancestry Library Edition, due to licensing rules.

Kids and Teen categories cater for younger readers, and armed with your library card PIN number, you can also review your account.

The new website, largely developed by staff, has a less busy look, which makes it very user-friendly. It also contains full information on joining and using your local library, with a rundown of upcoming events. Membership application forms are downloadable – you just need to complete the form and bring it in to the library. Glennis says the website will continue to develop and in the future membership applications will be able to be completed online.

• Visit Tasman District Libraries new website