General Services
Home Library Service volunteers can deliver books to your home for free if you are unable to visit the library. Please contact Librarydevelopment@southend.gov.uk for further details.
Recycling sacks are available at all libraries whilst stocks last and are free. We do not stock black refuse sacks. Gardens sacks can be purchased at all branches.
You can use the wi-fi by using the GUEST setting on your device
Wireless printing is unavailable. Customers can only print by accessing the people’s network.
Yes on a Wednesday and on other days at our branch libraries. Visit Facebook @southendbookstart or e-mail bookstart@southend.gov.uk for more information.
You can join online by going to https://southend.spydus.co.uk/ and click on Register or join in person at your local library with proof of name and address.
Borrowing and Returning
Yes, you can return your books at the book drop point.
Books can be requested from another library in the City of Southend free of charge but for books ordered via SELMS(our partner libraries outside the City of Southend for £3.00 per request). Timescales depend on the reservation process, searching for the books and transporting them to the chosen library.
The Access card is a support card that offers free access to audio books. Please ask staff for further information.
The loan period is 3 weeks. A late fee is applicable at 20p per day.
Books can be renewed online at https://southend.spydus.co.uk/, via the Spydus Mobile App and by telephone at any library during their opening hours by calling 01702 215011.
Southend City Libraries are The Forum, Kent Elms, Leigh-on-Sea, Shoeburyness, Southchurch and Westcliff Library.
You can borrow up to fourteen items for 3 weeks. Library Use only and FE/HE books are available as reference only and unavailable for loan on a public library card.
Facilities
Food and drink are allowed on both the ground and first floors of the Forum, but no hot food is allowed. No food or drink is allowed by the computers.
Yes, we have charging points at most study tables.
There are various tables and chairs with plug points located on the ground and first floor.
The disabled parking is situated on the Farringdon Service Road at the side of the playground.
The ground and first floors are the main public library, the second floor is the University of Essex and the third floor is the University Centre South Essex college.
Yes, baby changing facilities are available on the ground floor.
There is no café at the present time, there are a nice selection of coffee shops on the high street.
There are regular gallery exhibitions at The Focal Point Gallery, please visit www.fpg.org.uk for more information.
Yes, meeting room and community space hire – please email forumbookings@southend.gov.uk
Resources and Activities
We only have a few DVDs in stock, these are usually general interest DVDs alongside our book stock. We no longer stock CDs in our libraries.
We are currently limited on the stock we can receive, please contact your library to check beforehand.
Visit www.southend.spydus.co.uk or pop into the library.
You can sign up for a library card online. A code can be provided that you bring to the library with your address ID to collect your card. Please contact librarymanagers@southend.gov.uk for further assistance.
Please contact librarydevelopment@southend.gov.uk for information about reading groups.
For information regarding upcoming events, visit https://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/library or our Facebook page.
We have a variety of resources for adults and children, dual language books, transparent languages online and language books customers can search and reserve books free of charge whilst in the library or via https://southend.spydus.co.uk.
