A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z-

Access
There is good access to all Cheshire West and Chester Libraries. We also offer a mobile library service and a Books on Wheels service for those who are unable to visit a library themselves.

Archives
The Cheshire Record Office collects and cares for the principal collection of records and archives for the County of Cheshire, from the 12th century to the present day. Members of the public can consult these archives in the search room, free of charge and by appointment. A postal and internet service is also available and we can advise on archives held elsewhere.

Arts Service
Whether your interest is dance, music, theatre, art, poetry or literature, the Arts Service provides details of events and organisations across the region.
The Service also provides a directory of artists and information for artists. You will also find details of disability arts and the rural touring networks.

Babies
All babies are welcome at our libraries and can join at any age. Each library has a collection of books suitable for babies and toddlers and some hold weekly story times or rhyme times (children must be accompanied by a parent or carer).  Also available are the Bookstart and Book Crawl schemes.

Books
Books are loaned to library members, free of charge.  Whatever your taste in reading, Cheshire West & Chester Libraries have something to offer. Visit the Readers and Writers website and the library catalogue for ideas and inspiration.

There are books for all ages, as well as talking books on cassette and CD and large print books. You can borrow up to 20 books at any one time.

You can borrow all books unless they are for "reference only"; every library has a collection of reference books. The larger libraries have more extensive collections. The Virtual Reference Library can be accessed on the library computers or from any computer using your library membership number.

Our library catalogue is available for your use in all libraries or from any computer.  You can log in to your account with your Library card number and PIN to reserve and renew your loans online.  You can also read and write reviews, look at reading lists and create wishlists of books you'd like to read.  If you have not used this before the staff will be pleased to help you.

If you can't find the book you want, ask the library staff. If it is already out on loan or available at another library you can reserve it for a small charge.

Books may be borrowed for up to 3 weeks and can be renewed unless they have been reserved by another library member.  See the renewal section for ways to renew your loans.

Cheshire Libraries also has access to Braille books for children and adults; please ask a member of staff for details.

See also special collections.

Books on Prescription in Cheshire
Books on Prescription is a scheme in partnership with the NHS in Cheshire aiming to increase access to self-help materials free through libraries across Cheshire for people who suffer from anxiety, depression or stress-related conditions. Our leaflet (PDF 238 kb) contains details of the scheme and a booklist (PDF 146 kb) is available.

Books on Wheels Service
A large number of committed volunteers from the WRVS take books to over 500 housebound readers in their homes, or in sheltered accommodation. Please contact your local library for more details about this service or visit our Books on Wheels web page.

Bookstart
A national scheme to encourage families to visit the library and share the joys of reading and looking at books with babies and toddlers. It's never too soon to start! Find information about the national Bookstart scheme or Bookstart in Cheshire.

Book Crawl
Book Crawl is an initiative related to Bookstart. Contact your library for more information about Bookcrawl. Many Cheshire Libraries run regular under 5s Bookcrawl rhyme and story times.

Business Information Service
The Business Information Service at Ellesmere Port Library can help you with almost any enquiry, from the annual report of one of the UK's top 1,000 companies, to information on the Government's Statistical Office.
Whatever your business enquiry, call us on 0151 337 4693 or email BISEP@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk

Catalogue
The library catalogue is available from any computer with internet access. Items can be reserved and renewed from the catalogue using your library membership number and PIN. The catalogue includes details of our entire stock of books, CDs, console games, DVDs, language courses and talking books. It also includes details of our reference stock and leaflets available. Items out on loan or from another library can be reserved for a small fee.

CDs
Whatever your taste in music, you'll discover something worth listening to. You will also find foreign language courses and stories for children and adults (talking books). There is a charge for these loans. The current charges are listed in the Library Charges page, on display in all libraries.

You can find out what's in stock by checking the library catalogue either online or at one of the libraries. Ask the library staff to help you find what you want; if it is already out on loan, you can reserve it for a small charge.

CD-ROMs
Cheshire libraries have CD-ROMs which are available for loan. There is a charge for this service. 

Many libraries have computers which you can use to explore CD-ROMs which are for reference use.

Charges
It is free to join the library and to borrow books. There is a small charge to reserve books. Multimedia items have a hire charge. The People's Network computers are free to use for the first hour each day, after which there is a charge for use. Details of the current charges for these and other services are listed on the Library Charges page.

Cheshire Leisure Card
See Leisure Card for details.

Cheshire Poet Laureate
The Cheshire Poet Laureate scheme was launched by the former Cheshire County Council on National Poetry Day 2002 and ran until the end of 2009. Details of former Cheshire Poet Laureates and the poems they were commissioned to write can be found on the Cheshire Poet Laureate pages.

Cheshire Record Office: Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies
The Cheshire Record Office collects and preserves historical records and archives relating to both the ancient and modern county of Cheshire and the diocese of Chester. It also makes these records available to members of the public, together with major collections of maps and newspapers.

Everyone is welcome to consult these sources in the search room free of charge. They are used by people with a wide variety of interests, including the research of local and family history, house history, school and college projects, and for various official investigations.

You will need to make an appointment to visit the search room; it is best to do this at least a week in advance.

The Record Office subscribes to the CARN readers ticket scheme; please bring proof of identity, including name, address and signature, so that staff can issue a card.

If you are unable to visit in person, staff will answer, free of charge, postal and email enquiries on the availability of documents and suggest appropriate records for particular research topics. Searches for information in records or other sources held by the Record Office can be undertaken by our research consultant for a fee.

For more information phone 01244 972574 or fax 01244 973812
Email: recordoffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk
Cheshire Record Office, Duke St, Chester, Cheshire CH1 1RL

Children and Young People
Children of any age can join the library. Every library has a children and young people's section, with storybooks for all ages and information books to help with homework and interests. In addition to books, there are DVDs, CDs, story tapes and CD-ROMs available for loan in many libraries. The Cheshire library catalogue has details of all items in stock. Please note however that there is a small charge for borrowing multimedia items. Children may borrow up to 20 items, including up to 8 CDs and DVDs. However, only 2 computer games or DVD box sets can be borrowed at any one time.

Children and young people under the age of 16 can use the People's Network computers with parents permission (PDF 53 kb). Use of the computers is subject to the terms and conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy (PDF 53 kb). Please contact your local library for further details.

Homework help for children and young people and information for their parents/carers is available on our Children and Young People web pages and in the Virtual Reference Library.

Children with Special Needs
We have a collection of books and other materials for use by parents and carers with children who have special needs : visual, audio, physical or learning difficulties. There is also a small collection of Makaton materials available. For further details please contact the Inclusion and Special Projects Officer 01244 976025, or visit the children with special needs web page.

Community Information
Every Cheshire Library has a reference collection of leaflets in a series of Blue Information Binders. These leaflets cover subjects as varied as income tax, contraception, footpaths, employment rights, educational issues and council information. Leaflets can be ordered from the library or our Leaflet Service.

A Teen Factfile (PDF 43 kb) is also available in each library offering leaflets covering a range of subjects of special interest to young people. Further information for teenagers can be found on our teenspace web pages.

All Cheshire libraries display leaflets about local attractions and events.

Computers
All libraries have People's Network computers available for you to use. These allow you to access the Internet, library catalogue, homework resources, the Virtual Reference Library, send email, use Word and other Office software.  Many of the resources available on our library computers can also be accessed on any computer if you have a library membership number and PIN.

Computer use is free for one hour each day.  Most libraries have self-service computers which you can drop in and use with your library card number and PIN.  They also have computers which you can book to use, contact the individual library to do this.

Terms and conditions of use apply (PDF 54 kb).

If you are not a library member just bring along one form of ID (which must show your address) and join on the day!  Under 16s will need a signed parental consent declaration form (PDF 54 kb) before using the computers. Joining if you are under 16.

Printing and scanning facilities are available in all libraries. Demand for use can be high so booking in advance is advisable. Please contact your local library for details.  There are charges for printing.

We have special screens and speech synthesisers for people who are visually impaired.

A variety of computer courses are run at Chester Library and Ellesmere Port Library.  These range from complete beginners courses to ECDL level.  For details please call 01244 977386 for courses at Chester and 0151 333 8058 for courses in Ellesmere Port.

Console games
Console games are available for loan from some libraries. Formats include Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, Xbox and PC CD-ROM. Games are loaned on a weekly basis and there is a hire charge for them. The current charges are listed in the Library Charges page, on display in all libraries. Further details are available from individual libraries.

A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z-