Great books – great information – and so much more

Situated on the edge of Hitchin’s historic town centre, close to local shops and cafes, Hitchin Library provides the local community with a vast array of real and virtual resources. With free access for all the town’s residents, it’s easy to join (in person or online) and free to borrow books.

The children’s library remains a popular attraction, with storytime activities and an annual reading challenge as part of a national scheme to encourage reading through the summer. Each year, more than 500 children take part in the challenge, helping them to continue developing their reading skills while on holiday from school.

Services available online via www.hertsdirect.org.uk/libraries include booking PCs, access to library catalogues, renewals and reservations, ebooks and audiobooks and the online reference library. It’s easy to maintain your account online, including extending loans if the book isn’t needed elsewhere.

The core business remains a huge selection of books – fiction and non-fiction – available to take away on loan, either in the building or on order from further around the county and wider, where necessary. There’s a huge selection of reference books to use in the library, on subjects as diverse as hobbies, lifelong learning,

It’s more than books! Other services available (for some there is a charge, although concessions apply) include:

• A bank of 14 PCs with internet access
• Computer taster courses and longer beginner’s computer courses
• Unrivalled local history material for research and family history searches
• Advice on internet safety for children and adults
• Community directories
• Online reference library
• Family history archives and the brand new www.hertsmemories.org.uk
• Local and county council services on paper and online
• A wide range of DVDs, Blu-rays and CDs
• A regularly-updated community noticeboard
• Via the Hertfordshire network, a full set of play scripts or music scores is available for loan
• A selection of local maps and study materials
• A micro-reader for past copies of many newspapers and magazines
• Free wifi (even if the sun is shining and you sit out on the grass
• Photocopying and print from PCs
• A range of materials for jobseekers
• Information service - any query come and ask us

Come in and meet the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Hitchin Library. If you’re in a hurry, there are self-service kiosks for borrowing and returning items.

Please call Hitchin Library on 0300 123 4049 for further information about the facilities available.

Please remember to mention The Best of Hitchin when contacting Hitchin Library – for all you need to know.

© The Best of Hitchin