Local libraries

Barking Library

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

020 8724 8725 (Adult library), 020 8724 8722 (Children's library)

barking.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

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

Train: Barking

Parking: Bobby Moore Way and London Road car parks are nearby.

Opening times

Collections and services

• Council One Stop Shop (assisted self-service)
• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on CD 
• CDs and DVDs 
• newspapers and magazines 
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• scan stations -  to submit documents to the council
• 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 encyclopaedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers  
• a range of activities for all ages (reading zone, children's centre activities, etc)
• 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 writers group every 2 weeks on a Saturday from 10am to 12pm
• coffee morning every Thursday from 10.30am to 11.45am
• Barking Learning Centre 
• work club every Monday 10am to 11.30am
• Basic IT classes / computer session on Mondays 10am to 12pm
• council one stop shop (assisted self-service)

Room hire

We have a variety of spaces available. If you wish to hire a room and want to know about availability and fees, please contact us on 020 8724 5135 or email blcroombookings@lbbd.gov.uk

Access for disabled users

For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.

AccessAble

Dagenham Library

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

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on 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 encyclopaedias, 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 AccessAble.

AccessAble

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

Marks Gate Library

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

020 8270 4165

marksgate.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 62, 296, 362

Train: Chadwell Heath Overground Station, Newbury Park Underground Station

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

Opening times

Collections and services

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

Access for disabled users

For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.

AccessAble

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

Robert Jeyes Community Library

Robert Jeyes Community Library will be closed from 5pm Thursday 19 March until further notice.

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

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on 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 encyclopaedias, 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 AccessAble.

AccessAble

Barking & Dagenham College, Rush Green Campus library

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

Thames View Library

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

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on 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 encyclopaedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• a range of activities for all ages

Access for disabled users 

For information about access for disabled users, visit AccessAble.

AccessAble

Valence Library

Becontree Avenue, Dagenham RM8 3HT

020 8270 6864

valence.library@lbbd.gov.uk

Transport links

Buses: 62, 368, 128, 150

Train: Chadwell Heath

Parking: street parking is available

Opening times

Collections and services

• books and large print books 
• audiobooks on CD
• language courses 
• CDs, DVDs 
• newspapers and magazine  
• public computer access – library members or guest use
• wi-fi
• 24-hour online information collection, which allows free access to online encyclopaedias, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers 
• archives and Local Studies Centre in the Valence House Museum (on the same site) - please check Valance House Museum page for their opening times
• 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 AccessAble.

AccessAble

What you can borrow

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.

Books in other languages

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.

Reading Well

Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading.

The books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people living with the conditions covered and their relatives and carers.

You can be recommended a title by a health professional, or you can visit your local library and take a book out yourself. If the book you need is not available, you can reserve it online to pick up from any library in the borough.

There are five book lists available: 

1. Reading Well for mental health
2. Reading Well for young people
3. Reading Well for children
4. Reading Well for dementia 
5. Reading Well for long term conditions

Reading Well was recognised by the Royal Society for Public Health as a finalist for the 2017 Public Mental Health and Wellbeing Award

Reading Well Mood-boosting Books

Reading Well Mood-boosting Books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, short stories, poetry and non-fiction for all ages.  The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups. 

All titles can be borrowed from Barking and Dagenham Libraries. If you are not a library member you can join online

Reading Well website 

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

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 find out if your school subscribes to the service or for more information:

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

Book purchase scheme

Subscribing schools are welcome to visit us to select books for their school library or classroom collections. Visits are by appointment only, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm (including school holidays). 

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.