Library services

 Library details (address, opening hours, facilities)

 Library catalogue and renewals
 Access and facilities for people with disabilities
 Adult libraries
 Children's libraries
 Computer training centres
 Fax and photocopying
 Home delivery library service
 Internet access
 Local history
 Multicultural library and information service
 Music library service
 Reference and information service
 Services for blind and partially sighted children
 Special collections
 Wandsworth Museum

Online library catalogue
The online catalogue gives details of books, music, videos, DVDs and other materials available in Wandsworth Libraries. You can search by author, title or keyword.

Using your library membership number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) you can view your membership details, the items you have on loan, your reservations and any outstanding charges. You may also renew items you have on loan provided they have not incurred late return charges or hire fees, and reserve books and other items online, although adults aged 16-59, who incur reservation fees, can only reserve one title until the fee has been paid.

 Search the catalogue

Personal Identification Number (PIN)
If you have not yet set up your PIN, or you have forgotten your PIN, please contact your local Wandsworth library.

Help
For help with using the library catalogue on the Internet, please use the online help or contact your local Wandsworth library.

Other catalogue information
All Wandsworth Libraries provide computer terminals for public use which give access to:

• Library catalogue
• Membership information

Access and facilities for people with disabilities
Libraries Charter and information on facilities to help you access books and libraries.

You can also download our guide to access to libraries and library services.

 Access for all (147 kb)

Adult libraries
For lists of services available in each library see library details.

Children's libraries
All Wandsworth Libraries have separate children's libraries with professional children's librarians to help and advise.

• Wide range of materials for children up to 14
• Books
• Videos
• Audio-cassettes
• Parents and carers collections
• Weekly storytimes
• Activities and events
• Chatterbooks groups
• Summer reading challenge

Computer training centres
There are computer training centres provided by an external training company at Putney and Battersea libraries.

Fax and photocopying

Fax
There are Fax machines in all Wandsworth Libraries for public use. Faxes may be sent or received. Charges vary according to the number of pages and the distance of the call.

Photocopying
There are photocopiers in all libraries for public use.

Home delivery library service
The Home Delivery Library Service delivers books every month to residents who are physically unable to visit a library. Phone the Home Delivery Library Service at Alvering Library. Telephone 020 8871 6350.

Internet access
All libraries in Wandsworth have computers for Internet access available for public use. You can search for web sites and create your own email account to send and receive messages.

Local history
Information on the Heritage Service and local history

Multicultural library and information service

Asian Community Library
Tooting Library
75 Mitcham Road
SW17 9PD
020 8871 7174
Fax: 020 8672 3099

African Caribbean Community Library
Battersea Library
265 Lavender Hill
SW11 1JB
020 8871 7456
Fax: 020 7978 4376

All Wandsworth libraries have a range of material reflecting the cultural diversity of the borough, including books for children in community languages. The Multicultural Library and Information Service focuses on the library and information needs of the African Caribbean and Asian communities. It also has dual language books for children in many different languages including African, Arabic, Chinese, European, and Indic languages. Books are available for adults and children in Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil and Urdu. The staff offer advice, visits, training sessions and access to a wide range of multi-cultural materials.

Music library service
Balham, Battersea and Putney Libraries have an extensive range of music on CD and cassette including rock, reggae, jazz, soul, world, opera and classical. There are biographies of performers and composers, scores, histories, instrumental manuals, critical works, guides to selection, reviewing journals and magazines. Up-to-date information is kept on events, concerts, music teachers, local groups and activities. The staff can also advise and recommend. There is a small fee for borrowing audio items, while books and scores can be borrowed free of charge. Reservations for recordings are free.

Music information web links

Reference and information service

Provides access to information about any subject or interest.

There are extensive resources on law, business and government, art and humanities, education, plus telephone directories, textbooks, newspapers, maps and European Community information.

Local information (including Social Services) is available from Careline.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux in Balham, Battersea, Putney and Roehampton can be found at:

Wandsworth Citizens Advice Bureaux Ltd
4th Floor Bedford House
215 Balham High Road London
SW17 7BQ
Telephone: 020 8333 6960
Fax: 020 8378 5892

Visit: www.wandsworthcabx.org.uk

 Get a local map from Streetmap.

Visit: The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

or for online advice and information National Advice Guide

Services for blind and partially sighted children
All libraries provide large print books and talking books for children.

Balham, Putney and Southfields libraries provide collections of ClearVision books. These are children's books with Braille and English text. The books can be borrowed and can also be made available at other branches.

Children with a visual disability are exempt from paying any library charge.

For further information on library services to children, please contact Hilary Manning, Library Service Development Manager for Children and Young People, on 020 8871 8848.

More information about services for children with a visual disability is available from:

www.clearvisionproject.org
A UK postal lending library of mainstream children's books with added Braille. Membership is free to families.

www.rnib.org.uk
The Royal National Institute of the Blind provides practical support and advice to anyone with a sight problem.

The site includes information about the RNIB Talking Books service.

Other resources include:

www.listening-books.org.uk
The Listening Book Library.

www.calibre.org.uk
A free service providing audio cassettes and Mp3 disks

Special collections
Some material is available for loan, some is for reference use only and some is for viewing by appointment only.

Wandsworth Museum
For information on Wandsworth Museum