Hove Library has now reopened in the Carnegie building in
Church Road.
What work has been done at Hove Library?
The work carried out during the closure period since October 2005 has included:
- installing a public lift in the stairwell between ground and first floor
- installing a separate lift between ground floor and basement for staff use
- provision for disabled toilet facilities at ground floor level
- provision of new opening to an existing toilet at ground floor level
- general repairs
- removal of a temporary stud wall and making good at ground floor level
- introduction of air conditioning units in the IT room
Other improvements include:
- installing a self-service facility so that customers can take out and return
books themselves
- moving all the computers into one area on the ground floor to make better
use of space and create a defined computer area
- creating an audio-visual section
- installing CCTV
- improving the lighting
What services are there and how are they arranged?
Services on the ground floor:
Fiction
Novels are arranged in alphabetical order of author. For a particular genre, such as crime or science fiction, look for the labels on the spine of each book. We also provide a range booklists to assist your selection
Quick Picks
This area has the latest books in the news, from the TV and in the headlines as soon after publication as possible
Children’s Library
A stimulating environment for children containing a wide selection of books and other materials.
Sound & Vision
A wide choice of films on DVD, plus music CDs from rock, pop and hip-hop to classical, folk and new age.
Young People
A selection for those aged 13 to 19years. We offer fiction, graphic novels and information books including GCSE revision guides next to the Sound & Vision area.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) collection
Fiction and non-fiction books, both for loan and for reference. Also films on DVD and free copies of LGBT community magazines.
Large Print and Talking Books
A wide range of titles in large print, CD and cassette formats.
Essential Skills collection
Improve your English language skills, including grammar and punctuation, or your numeracy skills.
Books in other languages
A selection of titles in the major European and Asian languages.
Services on the upper floor:
Information
Reference materials and non fiction lending books are arranged separately on this floor.
Local History and Special Collections
The local history collection consists of material about Hove and Sussex. The three main special collections are the Wolseley Collection, Retrospective Children’s Books and a Private Press Collection.
Periodicals, newspapers and magazines
Newspapers, specialist periodicals, magazines and journals which you can read in the library, with a microfilm archive of major national newspapers.
Study Area
The upstairs study area is an ideal place to concentrate on your studies and research. Access is free and you can drop in any time.
Computers
Computers are available on the ground floor and in the IT Room and the mezzanine floor for you to use, one hour per person per day. You need to be a library member to use a computer and, as demand is high, you should always expect to book in advance. The service is free (but you pay for any printing). To book a session telephone 01273 290700 or do it yourself in the library with your library card and PIN.
- Our computers have
- access to the Internet and email
- Microsoft Office packages, which cover word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and PowerPoint for presentations
- Microsoft Publisher for desk top publishing and artwork
- printers for A3, A4, colour and black & white
- scanners for A3 and A4
Access
- passenger lift
- full wheelchair accessibility
- accessible toilets on the ground floor
- hearing loop
Our IT Centre includes
- Supernova, which magnifies text on screen and reads it out
- Jaws, which is a screen reader
- trackerballs, a whale mouse, an extra large keyboard and high contrast keyboards
Help yourself
Self –service
Avoid queuing by using the self-service desks to manage your library account and to issue, return and renew items. You will need your library card.
Catalogues
Browse the library catalogue online at one of the library’s computers, or at a dedicated catalogue terminal, to find out if an item is in stock in any library in Brighton & Hove. If it is in Hove Library, you will have the shelf reference or, if it is already on loan to someone else, you can reserve it on-line with your library card and PIN. You can also reserve it if the item is available from another library in Brighton & Hove.
Online Services
We subscribe to a range of online resources covering subjects such as art, careers, biography, British Standards and fashion. We also provide access to online newspaper databases and Which reports. Some are only available on computers at the library, others are available via the library website using your library card number
Enquiries
There are enquiry desks on both floors and staff are available throughout the library to help you with your information needs.
All of these services are free.
