Published 23rd April 2018
Bexley has 12 public libraries in total, offering free borrowing of books, rentable audiobooks and DVDs, as well as free access to WiFi and PCs. A wide range of groups and activities for children and adults such as reading groups, toddler and story-times and ‘stitch and sew’ clubs are also held in all libraries, as well as access to Citizen’s Advice at Central and Sidcup libraries and a variety of educational courses. Central Library also hosts Bexley Local Studies and Archives Centre. Other tenants and long-term space-users include the Post Office at Crayford Library and The Workary at Welling Library (a business incubator offering rentable desk space to start-ups and entrepreneurs).
6 libraries are managed directly by the Council and they are Library Plus as they offer a wide range of other Council services in addition to the borrowing of books, and they are:
- Central Library Bexleyheath
- Crayford Library
- Erith Library
- Sidcup Library
- Thamesmead Library
- Welling Library
The remaining 6 are managed by independent community groups with support from the Council:
- Bexley Community Library
- Blackfen Community Library
- Bostall Community Library
- North Heath Community Library
- Slade Green Library
- Upper Belvedere Library
Bexley Library Service also offers a Home Library Service that consists of a network of volunteers based at Sidcup library, making the library collection available to housebound readers via regular home visits.
The Council is currently working with Peabody to develop a new library in Thamesmead to replace the current temporary library with a significant new library building, the design for which is the result of a RIBA competition and for which the appointed architects are Bissett Adams. The new library is anticipated to open in 2021.
More information about all of the public libraries, including current management arrangements for community managed libraries, is available at Your London Library https://arena.yourlondonlibrary.net/web/bexley/libraries
Key usage statistics for all libraries (Council and Community Managed):
Number of active borrowers 2016/17: 36,894
Total number of visits 2016/17: 1,138,148
Number of items issued 2016/17: 785,909
Click here to view these locations on Google Maps.