Bury Libraries & Archives joins Greater Manchester Library System

Thursday, 9 February 2023 00:00

By Adam Clark

Readers will have a greater choice than ever, now that Bury has joined the shared Greater Manchester Library Management System. This gives Bury borrowers a choice of four million books and other items.

It means people can reserve and borrow items from the nine other districts of GM as well as from the local branches in Bury, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom using their Bury Libraries membership card. Access to all of the online library content remains the same.

Using the new online catalogue, Bury library members can view and renew their loans from libraries across the consortium, search for and reserve books and materials. Bury libraries membership cards can also be used in other libraries around the region.

Anybody who needs support in using the new online library system should contact their local library where staff will be happy to help, or email review@bury.gov.uk

Greater Manchester Libraries have a long history of working in collaboration. This includes the Time to Read Partnership, which promotes the benefits of reading; a stock purchasing consortium; and the Build a Business project which supports local SMEs.

Through their collaborative work, libraries in the region also offer free access to e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines. GM libraries are working to improve services around reading, digital inclusion, health and culture.

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for finance and communities, said: “Joining the Greater Manchester Library System is one more step towards an improved library service for all our residents.

“Book lovers of all ages can look forward to an even better reading experience and library staff can deliver even more for the communities they serve.”