Coronavirus forces Eastbourne libraries to close – but ‘phone befriending service’ is set up

Old Town and Pevensey community libraries will close on Friday (March 20) for four weeks due to the pandemic.

While Langney Library has announced it will close on Wednesday (March 18) at 1pm.

A spokesperson for the libraries said in a statement, “We all fought hard to reopen our libraries so have not taken this decision lightly, however we want to protect our volunteers and service users, many of whom are in the ‘at risk’ category.

“Up until Friday please do come and borrow as many books as you may need to keep you occupied, individual libraries may have different policies so check with your local volunteers.

“We know many residents who use our libraries will become more isolated as a result of closures, so Eastbourne Volunteers are setting up a phone befriending service to try to reduce the impact.”

If you are fearful you or someone you know will be left isolated, email [email protected] the service will try to match you with a phone befriender.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to be a phone contact for someone is asked to contact Eastbourne Volunteers.

This news comes just months after many of the services, which last year had their funding withdrawn from the county council, reopened as community projects.

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an illness which affects the lungs and airways; symptoms are a high temperature and continuous cough.

• NHS advice is to regularly wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

• If you live alone stay at home for seven days if you have either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

• If you live with others, the advice is for everyone in the household to self-isolate for 14 days if someone develops symptoms