For those who can't get to the Thames-Coromandel District Libraries, ‘never fear!' is the message from staff: the library can come to you.

The TCDL housebound service brings books back to the people, supplying those who are unable to leave the house to visit their local library.

Housebound service volunteer Elaine Petty selects some rip-roaring reads. Supplied Photo.

Patrons may be stuck at home for any variety of reasons, but that's no reason to miss out, says Thames Librarian Hunsa Newland.

'Most of our housebound customers are unable to visit the library due to illness or infirmity, so they use the service indefinitely.

'Sometimes a housebound customer is unable to visit the library on a temporary basis due to recovery from an injury or illness.”

And while the service has been operating for many years, construction beginning on stage two of the Thames Library upgrade is a great reminder that it's available.

Hunsa oversees the team of housebound service library volunteers, who help deliver specially-selected volumes to those who are housebound – a fresh bundle of books every three weeks.

It's not always just about delivering books, either. 'If someone is sight-impaired and unable to visit the library, we select and deliver audio books for them,” says Hunsa.

And sometimes, the only person a housebound customer will see in a day is the volunteer making a library delivery. So volunteers often make time for a chat, providing social contact and company to those in isolated or lonely circumstances.

Thames resident Waverney Whitehead has been receiving Thames Library's housebound service for several months.

'It works very well. I like the fact they come to me. It is such a production to get down to the library, and if I do get there I can't see very well anyway.

'I like the audio books they select for me. I really like biographies, especially New Zealand memoirs. And I really enjoy a good detective story.”

Along with large-print titles, there are DVDs, magazines, and e-books available for any housebound customer.

And to save the hassle of worrying about when and how to return their books, they are exempt from fines, and do not receive overdue notices; their books are renewed by the librarians, if necessary, and collected and returned by the volunteer team.

Anyone who is housebound can register for the service, and TCDL welcome enquiries from family members, friends, or caregivers of the person concerned.

If an individual is undergoing surgery and needs to convalesce for some time, they too are welcome to contact their local district library and set up the service beforehand.

And local Aged Care facilities use the service, with several residents in rest homes currently registered as housebound customers.

The team has even been known to deliver to people in hospital!

The housebound service is entirely free, ensuring all customers within the Thames-Coromandel District have access to public library services.

For more information, visit www.tcdc.govt.nz/libraries, or follow the library on Facebook.