Libraries

We aim to give you leisure and learning for life by providing 'community living rooms'

Welcome to Havering Library Service.

Our library service has the promotion of the written word at its centre providing services at the centre of local communities in buildings that are the focus for local activities.  Anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough can use our libraries. They're free to join and anyone - of any age - can have a ticket.

Happy New Year to all our customers

If your New Year's resolution is to try something new then why not join one of our Reading Groups ?  We also have a list of other local groups and clubs .

Central Library and Elm Park Library - temporary closures. 

Central library at St Edward's Way closed on Saturday 6 December 2008 for refurbishment; the Central Library lending services and People's Network have been moved to temporary accommodation at 32-34 High Street, Romford which is now open at the usual times.  There will be a modified reference service available from Hornchurch Library, whilst Local Studies have gone to Rainham Library and Family History is now at Upminster Library. Elm Park library is also closed for a rebuild but a service is being provided from a mobile library in the Community Hall car park next to the building works.

London Libraries Consortium

We are now part of the London Libraries Consortium involving several other London Boroughs. Using your library card and PIN number you can access all our online services; join the library; view our shared catalogue, your loans and account; and renew and reserve a range of items by choosing Online Catalogue, Registration, Reserves and Renewals .  You can also ring our 24 hour telephone renewals line 0115 929 3388 to renew items.

Free Virtual Library - try it now!

We are inviting you to visit our free virtual library and look at hundreds of information and reference books, maps, illustrations and interesting facts online to help you with homework or just for fun. All you need is access to a computer that is connected to the Internet at home, work or in an Internet cafe and a Havering Library Service card. We have Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Reference Online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Grove Art and Grove Music, Oxford English Dictionary and a collection of newspapers in Infotrac Custom Newspapers. We also have an online enquiry service:  Enquire and with your library card you can access all of the these services.  For fast access click on the icons below or for more information on each online resource visit our Information Services pages...

Enquire is a free live question and answer service provided around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by library services in England, the USA and Canada.  It works like instant messaging or a chat room so you can put questions to staff who can help you just as if you were talking face to face or on the telephone.  There's also an email service if you don't need the answer straight away.

Oxford English Dictionary

OED, click on the icon above and in the Library Card Number box type 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number E.g. havering4005678934.  If you have Norton Anti virus software you may encounter problems accessing OED.  Please email libraryservices@havering.gov.uk if you do.

Grove Art Online

Grove Art, click on the icon above and click through to the Library barcode user login box where you can put 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number. E.g. havering4005678934.

Grove Music Online

Grove Music, click on the icon above and click through to the Library barcode user login box where you can put 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number. E.g. havering4005678934.

Oxford Reference Online

Oxford Reference Premium Collection , click on the graphic above and in the Library Card Number login box type 'havering', followed by your new library card E.g. havering4005678934.

Encyclopedia Britannica Library Edition Online 

Library members can now access a choice of three age specific sections; junior, student and adult.  Click on the images below and type 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number E.g. havering4005678934.

	For ages 5-11 use  Encyclopedia Britannica Junior Library Edition .
	For ages 12-18 use Encyclopedia Britannica Student Library Edition .
	For adults 18+ we recommend the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Infotrac Custom Newspapers

Infotrac, click on the icon and in the login box type 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number.

E.g. havering4005678934.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , click on the image above and in the Library Card Login type 'havering' in lower case, followed by your library card number.

E.g. havering4005678934.

Library Services Manager

Ann Rennie

Ann.Rennie@havering.gov.uk