City of Sydney Library service changes
We’re welcoming more people safely back to our libraries with longer opening hours and more services and space now available.
We’re welcoming more people safely back to our libraries with longer opening hours and more services and space now available.
Most branches are now open to visit 7 days a week to browse and borrow, study, work, read and use the computers. At our other locations, borrowing is available using a contactless reserve and collect service.
We’re excited to announce that some of our much-loved events and programs will return to branches from mid-March. And you can also now hire our library venues, including meeting rooms for use from 15 March onwards.
Please read below for service details and important health and safety information.
Scroll to see the full list of library locations and click or tap on a library for details of services available and opening hours.
All collection items on the shelves at each branch are available to borrow. You can also pick up reserves from these locations by selecting the branch in the online catalogue as normal.
Please use the self-checkout kiosks to borrow your items before leaving. Standard loan and renewal periods apply.
More desks are now available for use without time limits at Customs House, Darling Square, Glebe, Green Square, Kings Cross, Newtown and Surry Hills. The number of desks at each branch depends on the maximum capacity and layout to maintain physical distancing between desks.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
Members can use the self-service computers free of charge for up to 3-hours per person per day. Bookings aren’t required and fees apply for non-members.
Free wifi is available in the libraries to connect your own laptop or device when using the study desks.
This contactless service is available at:
How reserve and collect works
Find out more about how to make reservations in the online catalogue and reactivate reserved items.
When visiting a library we ask you to:
Please do not visit a branch if you:
What we are doing:
Returns can be made using the returns chutes at these branches:
Standard loan and renewal periods apply for items borrowed at the browse and borrow branches. Return dates for all reserve and collect loans will be advised on collection.
Inter-library loan requests are now available. Find out how to make a request
City of Sydney Library membership is free for all New South Wales residents. To apply for a full 3-year membership, complete the online form or visit a staffed branch open for browsing and borrowing. To finalise your full membership and collect your library card, you’ll need to visit a staffed branch and show proof of identity and permanent residential address.
City of Sydney residents and ratepayers can also apply for a temporary online memberships without visiting a branch. New and existing temporary memberships are valid until 30 June 2021. To convert your temporary online membership to a full 3-year membership, visit a staffed branch open for browsing and borrowing.
If your membership is due to expire within the next month, it will be automatically extended for 12 months from the original date of expiry. If you have overdue or lost items your membership cannot be automatically extended. Please contact us by email library@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9265 9333 for assistance.
The library’s digital collections can be accessed from home and include ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines and enewspapers. You can also stream films and music and access many online resources for children.
The home library service continues to operate for existing home library members. Eligible City of Sydney residents can also apply to join the service.
The NSW Justices Association has temporarily closed its JP service at our library branches and customer service centres. Visit Department of Communities and Justice to find other JP services that may be available.
If you need assistance or have any questions, contact our library team by emailing library@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or calling 02 9265 9333.
We’ll continue to provide updates about changes to our library services.
Find out more about changes to other City services and facilities.
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