Welcome back to Off the Shelf! Last week, I talked about the fun, free events the Bridgeport Public Library hosts and how we are taking those events on the road to local businesses. This week, I’d like to tell you about another community service we offer—Home Delivery. When the weather, your health, or other life circumstances don’t cooperate, visiting the library to check out our physical collection books, magazines, puzzles, audiobooks, games, and more becomes an impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be. We can bring the library right to your doorstep!

Home Delivery is not a new service for us, but we have expanded it this year to reach more people who might only need the service for 3 or 6 months at a time. This is a perfect solution for when you are caring for a newborn, recovering from surgery, or can’t make it out of your driveway during the winter—anything that keeps you at home temporarily. Of course, if you are at home due to a lack of transportation, chronic illness, or other long-term circumstance, we can schedule Home Delivery visits indefinitely. We can also deliver to local nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

To be eligible for Home Delivery through the Bridgeport Public Library, you do need to live within Bridgeport city limits and have a library card in good standing. If you live in Bridgeport but don’t have a library card, we can work with you to get a card created. If you don’t live in Bridgeport, I might suggest that you reach out to your nearest local library and see if they have a similar service—many do!

Our staff will personalize the service to meet your needs and work with you to create a consistent schedule. If you are ready to schedule Home Delivery or want more information, our full policy and online application form is available on our website: https://bplwv.org/outreach-10671 You are also welcome to give us a call at 304-842-8248 ext. 2.