Forum Topic

Digital services from Wandsworth/Putney library - I had no idea how good!

I recently joined Putney library and whilst I have no intention of borrowing physical books there is sooo much online you get access to:- Audiobooks via Overdrive and uLibrary; you can put the Libby app on your phone, log in with the library card and start listening to audiobooks of your choosing- ebooks for your Kindle, borrow up to 5 at a time- Online reading group/book club- Newspaper and magazine subscriptions - all free - UK and worldwide- Music streaming service with 3 hours free streaming a day which is pretty decentThe only thing that made me start looking into it was that my elderly father had cataract surgery go wrong and is no longer able to read himself, so I decided to look into audiobooks.It's pretty impressive all this is available!

Jo Amadi ● 1033d8 Comments

I'd forgotten the very important computer access.  Many people who don't have computers at home and who have to log on to look for jobs find these invaluable.And there are talks...  some of this is on the front page of the website and it is also here:http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=evputneylibrary2304.htm

Philippa Bond ● 1027d

Putney Library is undergoing a major refurb at the moment too. A working space on the 2nd floor, a revamp of the children's library on the 1st, and the ground floor will have a basic cafe, a special study area and space for groups to meet up. It's going to have a feature of some sort of book sorting machine at the entrance. All looks very impressive, and apparently it's all going to plan too. I think plans are available to see at the two reception desks. It's a fantastic asset to Putney, and yes, please take out books! They have a great collection, and plenty of large print ones too, as well as DVD's and there's the free computer access too.

Victoria Diamond ● 1028d

You're right.  I don't know the figures but both of my cataract ops went brilliantly well.  My father's went well too but Him Indoors' first one didn't go well and he couldn't see at all out of the eye and had to go for another op which was very awkward to deal with for us both.  They said they weren't worried but that didn't help when he still couldn't see.  I couldn't ask 'how are you today' because it was such a stressful subject and it was better to just keep up all the meds and cleaning and keep distracted on other things. It wasn't until we met someone else with really difficult long-term eye problems from childhood who had had loads of operations on his eyes that he found hope at the end of this tunnel. HI said it was as if he was underwater looking up after the second op but gradually the gas they put in to clean the eye reduced and what was like looking from underwater and seeing the water level drop carried on happening until he had clear sight.  FIL though had so many other eye problems that his cataract operations just didn't seem to make any difference. FIL found life very difficult after MIL died (he did the hearing and she did the seeing - and we didn't realise how much until there was just the one) and FIL wouldn't go out in case he met someone who would greet him and he couldn't recognise them and tell who it was (and we didn't know who it was so couldn't prompt). He was in his 90s and was a war veteran.  We started going out in the car and he could tell where he was on the roads because he had cycled them without lights in the dark so many times during the war. If your father is a war veteran Blind Veterans UK (used to be St Dunstans) can also help as well as the British Legion.  I also see Wandsworth list an organisation called BlindAid https://www.blindaid.org.uk/  I found that the local organisation helped me with equipment because although I had spent a lot of time in London after navigating the RNIB website and visiting them - the practical help of what people were actual using and finding most helpful came from the local association who also visited and offered some things to try rather than just buy!

Philippa Bond ● 1028d

Thanks Philippa this is very helpful. I was not aware of an ECLO. We've been told his only hope of improvement to his vision is a corneal transplant, The backlog is so long for that (several years) that the NHS will not even add anyone to a waiting list any more(!) so feeling rather stranded and out of options at the moment.A harsh reminder that no operation is without risk even very common ones like cataracts. I guess you think there's so many done every day nothing can go wrong, but it does.

Jo Amadi ● 1029d

And unlike a lot of buildings that you get on high streets in the UK despite the Disability Act and the lack of attention paid to it  -  it IS accessible!Libraries are very important hubs for information and a great place for the introduction of small children to books and for parents of small children to meet each other - often at musical nursery rhyme sessions. 

Philippa Bond ● 1029d

Digital services are really good for people who have the kind of problems outlined here. However, please do visit Putney Library in person if you are able to. The library is a huge asset in Putney, in striking contrast to the High Street. Frances, the library manager, is brilliant: full of ideas and innovations. There are a large number of groups who meet there on a regular basis: Social, French, Spanish, book group, chat etc. If people are mobile, interacting with others of all ages is actually more beneficial than sitting at home on a computer.Finally please do have ‘the intention of borrowing physical books’ if you can. The danger is that if most reading is done on a device, this will provide the government with a rationale for closing libraries. This has already happened in many areas of the country. This would be a terrible loss here, especially for children and for all of us who enjoy reading books.

Jane Carter ● 1030d

Thanks for the info, Jo. That really is an impressive array of services. Very sorry to hear about your father's op.

Michael Ixer ● 1030d

That's impressive.Unfortunately with my elderly FIL technology had changed so much and was continually changing so much that he just could not deal with it.  Not just technology but with a reduction of feeling in fingers as well as not being able to see it or remember instructions for something he had not been able to see was just too much.However there was a wonderful woman from the library (not Putney btw) who used to come ostensibly to change his audiobooks but actually just spent some time talking to him instead. Every time I think of her I send her a virtual hug.You may find that Age UK or a local organisation for the blind (blindness has different degrees) will be useful to you.  Your local eye hospital may also have an ECLO (Eye Care Liaison Officer) who may also help you to navigate available help and equipment.  Managing to keep communication going can be hard work with family and friends.  Parents in law never got to grips with the mobile phone we gave them.  Cordless phones were out of the question as they can be misplaced and lost so easily.  Everything had to have its place and be replaced there and so many things including the big corded phones (with speed dial set up) were actually stuck down with bluetack.  (Phones are being changed now though so not sure what would happen today.)I wonder what we will be using in 30 years' time, how much it will have changed - hopefully not as much - and whether if I'm still around I will have managed to keep up with enough of it!Good luck. 

Philippa Bond ● 1030d