Local libraries

Location and contact details

Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking IG11 7NB

020 8724 8725 (first floor library), 020 8724 8722 (ground floor library)

barking.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 5, 62, 169, 238, 287, 368, 387, EL1, EL2

Train: Barking

Parking: Bobby Moore Way car park is nearby.

Opening times

• Monday to Thursday, 9am to 9.30pm 
• Friday and Saturday, 9am to 5pm 
• Sunday, 10am to 4pm
• Bank holidays, closed

Collections and services

• Council One Stop Shop (assisted self-service)
• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD 
• CDs and DVDs 
• newspapers and magazines 
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• scan stations -  to submit documents to the council
• My Account computers and freephone telephones to council services
• wi-fi
• information section, including directories, maps, legal information and statistics 
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers  
• a range of activities for all ages
• a reading group meets on the first Monday of the month from 6pm to 7pm
• an audio book group meets on the first Wednesday of the month between 10am to 12pm
• a poetry group meets every 2 weeks on a Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm
• Barking Learning Centre 

Access for disabled users

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

Location and contact details

1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS

020 8724 3942 (library enquiries only)

DagenhamLibrary@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links 

Buses: 145, 173, 174, 175, 364

Train: Dagenham Heathway Underground

Parking: pay and display parking is available in the nearby shopping mall car park.

There are disabled bays available in the Mall car park and 4 disabled bays diagonally opposite the library on Dagenham Avenue.

There is also a disabled drop-off and pick-up point at the side of Dagenham Library in Church Elm Lane.

Opening times

• Monday to Thursday 9am to 7pm 
• Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm 
• Sunday, closed
• Bank holiday, closed

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD 
• CDs and DVDs 
• newspapers and magazines 
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• scan stations -  to submit documents to the council
• My Account computers and freephone telephones to council services
• a range of activities for all ages 
• Council One Stop Shop (assisted self-service)
• a reading group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month, from 10.30am to 11.30am

Room hire

We have two large community meeting rooms and three smaller meeting rooms for hire - suitable for meetings and conferences. 

If you wish to hire a room and want to know about availability and fees, please contact us on 020 8724 5135 or email dagenhamlibraryroombookings@lbbd.gov.uk 

Access for disabled users  

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

This is a community-run library, staffed by volunteers and supported by the library service.

Location and contact details

Marks Gate Community Centre, Rose Lane, Marks Gate RM6 5NJ

020 8270 4165

marksgate.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 62, 296, 363

Train: Chadwell Heath Station

Parking: there is a car park at rear of building. 

Opening times

• Monday, 10am to 5pm (library staff available for assistance from 10am to 12pm) 
• Tuesday, 10am to 5pm 
• Wednesday, closed 
• Thursday, 1pm to 5pm (library staff availabe for assistance from 2pm to 5pm) 
• Friday, 10am to 5pm (library staff available for assistance from 2pm to 5pm) 
• Saturday and Sunday, closed 
• Bank holidays, closed

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD 
• CDs 
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 

Access for disabled users

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

This is a community-run library, staffed by volunteers and supported by the library service.

Location and contact details

Chadwell Heath Community Centre, High Road, Chadwell Heath RM6 6AS

020 8270 4305

robertjeyes.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 62, 86, 173, 362

Train: Chadwell Heath Station

Parking: there is a car park alongside building.

Opening times

• Monday, 10am to 5pm (staff available for assistance from 1.30pm to 5pm) 
• Tuesday, 11.30am to 6pm (staff available for assistance from 1.30pm to 6pm) 
• Wednesday, 10am to 5pm (staff available for assistance from 10am to 2pm) 
• Thursday, 10am to 7pm (staff available for assistance from 2pm to 5pm) 
• Friday, closed 
• Saturday, 10am to 4pm (closed the Saturday before a bank holiday)
• Sunday, closed
• Bank holidays, closed

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD 
• newspapers and magazines 
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• arts, drama and dance activities for all ages 
• active age activities 
• children’s centre activities
• a reading group meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7.30pm

Access for disabled users  

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

The Library & Learning Resources Centre at the Rush Green Campus of Barking and Dagenham College is open for local residents to use.

Library & Learning Resources Centre

Location and contact details

Sue Bramley Community Centre, Bastable Avenue, Barking IG11 0LG

020 8270 4164 

thamesview.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: EL1, EL2

Train: Barking Station

Parking: street parking is available

Opening times

• Monday, 10am to 5pm 
• Tuesday, 10am to 7pm 
• Wednesday, 12pm to 5pm 
• Thursday, closed 
• Friday, 12pm to 5pm 
• Saturday, 11am to 3pm 
• Sunday, closed
• Bank holidays, closed

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD 
• CDs and DVDs 
• newspapers  
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• a range of activities for all ages

Access for disabled users 

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

Location and contact details

Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8 3HT

020 8270 6864

valence.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 62, 368

Train: Chadwell Heath

Parking: street parking is available

Opening times

• Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 5pm 
• Tuesday, 10am to 7pm 
• Friday, closed 
• Saturday, 10am to 4pm 
• Sunday, closed
• Bank holidays, closed

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on tape and CD
• language courses 
• CDs, DVDs and videos 
• newspapers and magazine  
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• archives and Local Studies Centre in the Valence House Museum (on the same site)
• a reading group meets  on the second Thursday of the month, from 10.30am to 12pm
• a reading club meets on the first Saturday of the month, from 10.30am to 12pm

Access for disabled users

For information about access for disabled users, visit DisabledGo.

DisabledGo

You can borrow a wide range of items, including books, audio books, DVDs and CDs. 

Adults (ages 16 and over)

• 16 books and/or audiobooks on tape and CD can be borrowed for 3 weeks
• 4 music CDs can be borrowed for 3 weeks
• 4 DVDs can be borrowed for 1 week
• 2 language courses can be borrowed for 3 weeks

Children and young people (ages up to 15)

Under 16s can borrow up to 12 items at a time.

• Books, audio books, CDs and language courses can be borrowed for 3 weeks
• DVDs can be borrowed for 1 week

Find out how much we charge for hiring CDs, DVDs and language courses.

Our libraries stock a selection of books in these languages:

• Arabic
• Bangla
• French
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Spanish
• Tamil
• Turkish
• Urdu

For more information or book selection choice, contact your local library.

Books on Prescription gives you access to a range of self-help titles assessed and recommended by mental health professionals.

The books are available from all our libraries, covering subjects such as:

• depression
• stress
• anxiety
• anger
• panic
• obsessive compulsive disorder

Many are self-help versions of successful clinical treatments. Most offer complete step-by-step treatment programmes along with with exercises and assessments.

How it works

Following discussion with a GP, nurse or mental health professional, a prescription is issued for a relevant title that will enable you to learn more about your health problem and help manage it. You can then take your prescription to be exchanged for the book at any of our libraries. This service is free and confidential.

If you need help to find the title, staff will assist you. If the book is not on the shelves, you can reserve it online or at the library. The library service cannot recommend titles and alternatives if the listed titles are not available.

You will need to be a member of the library service before you can borrow any books. Joining is easy and free. Books in the scheme can be borrowed for up to three weeks, and can be renewed in person, by telephone or online, free of charge. Books cannot be renewed if they are reserved by another library member.

Recommended book list

The school library service provides a wide range of resources for:

• primary teachers
• student teachers
• advisory teachers

working in Barking and Dagenham.

Visits are by appointment only, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm (including school holidays).

Contact us to make an appointment:

020 8724 8531

specialistservices@lbbd.gov.uk

Curriculum support loans

Primary phase teachers working in the borough can borrow up to 30 books and one audiovisual item at a time to use in the classroom.

Resources are chosen with the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum in mind. New titles are regularly added.

Collections are issued for a term, and can be renewed for a further term. Loans can be exchanged more often if required.

A van service delivers and collects the loaned items. Loans are automatically delivered as soon as possible after being requested, but schools need to contact us (details at the bottom of the page) to arrange for collection.

Delivery and collection day is usually a Thursday.

Special loan collections

We have special loan collections which can be requested in the same way as Curriculum Support Loans. The range includes:

• material for Black History Month
• author collections
• folk and fairy tales
• challenging picture books

Subscribing schools can complete the form and below and email it to us. 

Curriculum support loan request form (DOCX, 36 KB) 

Book purchase scheme

Subscribing schools are welcome to visit us, by appointment, to select books for their school library or classroom collections.

You can choose from a wide range of:

• fiction and non-fiction texts
• dual language books
• SATs titles
• big books

We can order titles or subjects not available.

If teachers find it difficult to access the showroom, our staff can select material on their behalf.

Schools can invest in extra books by transferring money from their budgets.

Visits by school classes to any borough library are very welcome. They can be arranged with the library you wish to visit.