Covid-19 update

The safety of our communities, customers and team is our top priority.

Library services and hours

We’re pleased to announce we can open most library branches, following changes to public health orders. All visitors to our libraries aged 16 years and over must be fully vaccinated and show proof of their vaccination status.

Please be kind to our team. They are doing their best to help and support you.

Browse and borrow branches

Customs House, Darling Square, Glebe, Kings Cross, Newtown, Surry Hills

• Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm

Waterloo

• Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm

Green Square will be reopening Wednesday 27 October.

Library link services

Town Hall Library Express:

• Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm

Pyrmont Link:

• Monday to Thursday, 9am to 9pm
• Friday, 9am to 6pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm

Find out more about how to make reservations in the online catalogue and reactivate reserved items.

Green Square and Ultimo branches are currently closed as they are vaccination centres.

Download the library app

It is with great excitement we can announce members can access the City of Sydney Library anytime, anywhere on an app. Browse and search collections including ebooks and eaudiobooks, manage your loans and reservations with contactless checkout. Embrace your digital library card now.

Venue hire

You can now make library venue hire bookings. Rooms will be available from Monday 25 October at Customs House and Darling Square.

Health and safety

When visiting a library we ask you to:

• Provide proof of double vaccination status to access the library.
• Anyone over 12 years must wear a face mask in City of Sydney indoor venues.
• Check in on arrival. All visitors must register by scanning the QR code with their smartphone at the entrance. If you don’t have a smartphone or need assistance, see a member of our library team.
• Sanitise your hands when you arrive.
• Follow the signs and floor markings and maintain 1.5m physical distance from all people including staff.
• Follow directions from library staff.
• Observe the lift limits and use the stairs, and give priority to less mobile visitors.
• Visit individually or in a small family group.

Please do not visit a branch if you:

• You are experiencing even mild Covid-19 symptoms such as a cough or sore scratchy throat.
• Have visited an area where NSW Health advises immediate self-isolation and testing.
• Have been tested for Covid-19 and have been told to wait for results.

What we’re doing:

• Our library team is on hand to assist visitors.
• Library computers and surrounding desk areas will be cleaned after each person and frequently touched areas will receive further cleaning.
• Hand sanitisers are available at the entrance and throughout the library.
• A Covid-19 safety plan for each branch is in place.

Other library services and information

Returns

Returns can be made using the returns chutes at these branches:

• Glebe, Green Square, Newtown, Surry Hills, Ultimo and Waterloo libraries: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Darling Square Library: 7am to 10pm every day
• Customs House Library: 8am to 10.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 10.30pm Saturday and 9am to 5pm Sunday
• Kings Cross Library: Returns can be made during opening hours
• Town Hall and Pyrmont Link during building opening hours

Loans

All loans have been renewed until 3 November.

Inter-library loan requests are now available. Find out how to make a request.

Your reservations

You can continue to reserve items using the online catalogue. We’ll notify you when your items are ready to collect, but please expect longer wait times as we restart our library service.

If you made a library reservation at one of our other libraries before 21 September 2021 it has been suspended.

If you no longer require your reserved item, you can cancel your reservation. If you’d still like to borrow these items, you can reactivate them in your online account.

Home library service

The home library service operates 3 days a week delivering items to vulnerable communities. Eligible City of Sydney residents can also apply to join the service.

Explore our digital collection

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. Consider learning a language.

Memberships

New memberships

City of Sydney Library membership is free for all NSW 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 temporary online memberships without visiting a branch. New and existing temporary memberships are valid until 30 June 2022.

Temporary online members are invited to convert to a full 3-year membership, visit a staffed branch open for browsing and borrowing.

If you’re under 18 years old, your application will need to be endorsed by a parent or guardian.

View our City of Sydney boundaries to check that you’re a resident before applying.

Membership renewals

If your membership is due to expire in October, it will be automatically extended until the 28 February 2022. If you have overdue or lost items your membership cannot be automatically extended. Contact us by email library@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9265 9333 for assistance.

Get your Covid-19 vaccination

The health experts advise the best way to protect ourselves and others from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated. Everyone over 12 in the City of Sydney area is eligible for a free Covid-19 vaccine, so get yours now.

A pop-up clinic offering Pfizer vaccinations is available at Ultimo Community Centre for anyone aged 16 to 59.

If you are aged 60 or over or 12 to 15, you can still book at a NSW Health vaccination clinic, local pharmacy, or your GP. Find an appointment.

More information

If you have any questions about our library services, email our library team library@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9265 9333.

Find out more about changes to other City of Sydney services and facilities.