Libraries

Libraries across Northern Ireland offer a wide range of free services including the loan of books and magazines, local history resources, eBooks, eMagazines, computer use, internet access and Wi-Fi. Libraries have a large selection of books for all ages, including large print books and audio books.

COVID-19 update

In line with Coronavirus restrictions announced on 14 October 2020,  Libraries NI remain open for a ‘book and collect’ service. 

For the latest service information visit the Libraries NI website

Join the library

Library membership is free. You can join from birth and members can borrow up to nine items at any one time. Your library card allows you to borrow from and return to any Northern Ireland library or mobile library stop.

You can join online or in any Northern Ireland public library.

Find your local library

Online books and magazines 

Libraries NI offers free eBooks and eMagazines.

There are 48,000 items and 11,500 titles in the eBooks catalogue. There are no fines for late return of eBooks as they simply expire (end) at the end of the loan period.

There are 200 eMagazine titles including cookery, computers, home, sport, health and wellbeing. These can be kept on your device as there is no expiry date.

Events and courses

Events and courses for people of all ages are held regularly in most libraries. These include talks, workshops, exhibitions, reading groups and computer courses.

Find out about events and courses at a library near you by entering your postcode on the following web page:

Reading groups

Reading groups are held for adults, teenagers and children.

Rhythm and Rhyme

Parents and carers have the opportunity to enjoy nursery rhymes, stories and songs with babies and toddlers up to four years old.

Computer basics in small simple steps

The 'Got IT?' free course takes you through the basics of computers in small, simple steps. It is divided into three parts:

  • introduction to computers
  • introduction to the internet
  • introduction to email

Each session lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Library staff will be on hand to get you started, explaining the names and breaking down the jargon one piece at a time. You must be a library member to take part.

Go ON computer training session

This is a free session for people who want to find out more about technology and computers in a relaxed environment, at their own pace. It helps people improve their computer skills by offering help to do lots of everyday tasks on the computer. You must be a library member to take part.

Heritage services

Libraries NI has an wide range of resources for historians, researchers, genealogists, students and those with an interest in cultural and community life, past or present. These include:

  • books
  • newspapers and journals
  • maps
  • photographs
  • archives and special collections

Heritage events take place regularly including talks, family history fairs, workshops and book launches. 

More useful links

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

What to do next

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

What to do next

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

What to do next

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

What to do next

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

What to do next

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

What to do next

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries about:

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

What to do next

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

What to do next

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

What to do next

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

What to do next

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

What to do next

For queries or advice about rates, email:
rating@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about property valuation, email:
valuation@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about land registry, email:
CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk

For mapping queries, email:
Mapping.Helpdesk@finance-ni.gov.uk

What to do next

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.