Information about London -Public Libraries in London

A library simply entails a venue where, books, newspapers, tapes, records, digital information and other material are kept for the purpose of information, education and research.

A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources like tax revenue and operated by civil servants. There are five elementary characteristics shared by public libraries. The first is that they are generally supported by taxes (usually local, though any level of government can and may contribute); they are governed by a board to serve the public interest; they are open to all and every community member; they are entirely voluntary in that no one is ever forced to use the services provided; and public libraries provide basic services without charge.

Public libraries exist in almost every borough across London, and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries and special libraries in that their mandate is to cater for the information needs of the general public (rather than the needs of a particular school, institution, or research population). Public Libraries also provide free services such as preschool story times to encourage early literacy, quiet study and work areas for students and professionals, or book clubs to encourage appreciation of literature in adults. Public libraries typically allow users to take books and other materials off the premises temporarily. They also have non-circulating reference collections and provide computer and internet access to patrons.

Though the advent and systematic evolution of the digital era has tended to diminish the momentum of public libraries, they nonetheless remain a cardinal tool of education, information and literacy enhancement in the community.

Usually, to be able to borrow items from a public library, one needs to register there. Generic principles mostly apply to usage of all public libraries, but some of these libraries have added their own rules and requirements, in response to their specific challenges and visions. Visit your local library in London, for more information about registration and borrowing procedures and rules.

Some universities might also allow those registered for a course in their institutions to use their libraries at a certain cost.