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.
On your marks..get set..go! 
Race down to your library and take your place on the Start line ready for the Team Read! It's not too late to start! For session times visit our Children's pages
2008 is the National Year of Reading . August's theme is Read the Game and there are lots of exciting themed activities at Harold Hill library to celebrate. Visit our Events and Whats newfor more information.
Share your sporting memories
Did you know that London now has the green light to make culture play a central role in the 2012 Games? The Cultural Olympiad will be launched on the weekend of 26-28 September 2008 and Havering Library Service, as part of its cultural provision is running a 'sporting memories project', which will form part of the four year celebrations.
Would you like the opportunity to showcase your recollections past and present of any local, national or international great sporting events, including the Olympics ......... then here is your chance.....
If you were involved either as a spectator or a participant or if you know someone who would like to be involved in this project, then please email us at david.denison@havering.gov.uk or telephone us on 01708 432397/434093, with your name and phone number and a very brief description of your memory and we will be in touch during the summer to organise a recording session. The recording session could be either in writing, voice recorder or via video. All memories will form part of a portfolio in preparation for our celebration of the 2012 Olympics in London.
Monster
is the National Year of Reading's word of the week - it means " a large, ugly and frightening imaginary creature, an inhumanly cruel or wicked person. Try the online Oxford English Dictionary below for more interesting words........
South Hornchurch and Elm Park libraries - temporary closures
South Hornchurch library is closed temporarily for refurbishment and the service from the portacabin adjacent to the building will cease from Monday 11th August. The newly refurbished library is expected to reopen by the end of August. Elm Park library is now closed for a rebuild but a limited service will be provided from a mobile library in the Community Hall car park.
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 Encyclopaedia 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 Antivirus 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 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.
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.
London Libraries Consortium
We are now part of the London Libraries Consortium and have a shared catalogue with several other London Boroughs. If you have a library card and PIN number you can use all our online services (ask a member of staff for your PIN Number). You can join the library, view our stock, check which items you currently have on loan, view your account, and renew and reserve a range of items by choosing Online Catalogue, Registration, Reserves and Renewals . You can also renew your books on our 24 hour telephone renewals line 0115 929 3388.
