The Libraries Directory 50th Edition Libraries Directory Home • Online Guide • A to Z

Public Libraries

	United Kingdom:	220 entries, 4,292 branches	Sample Page (PDF)
	Ireland:	32 entries, 386 branches	Sample Page (PDF)

The UK Public Libraries Section covers all library authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus entries for the public libraries of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. The Irish Section contains all library authorities in the Republic of Ireland. Each public library authority has its own entry, and the CD-ROM also includes individual sub-entries with full contact details for all branch libraries, including part-time libraries and specialised services.

Entries are based on information taken from questionnaires sent out to the library authorities themselves. Each entry has the following general format:

Contact Details

Postal address of authority headquarters
Telephone and fax numbers
Email address
Internet address of web site
Internet address of online catalogue
Names and emails of chief officer and deputy
Names and emails of other senior staff
Name and email of officer in charge of acquisitions
Name and email of officer in charge of inter-library loans
Name and email of officer in charge of equipment purchases
Name and email of officer in charge of entertainments and activities

Other Details

Name of local authority
Population served by authority
Committee responsible for libraries
Larger department responsible for libraries (if any), including name of department chief
Main libraries, including full contact details
Full-time branch libraries, including full contact details
Part-time branch libraries (full contact details included on CD-ROM)
Other services and service points, including full contact details
Number of mobile libraries
Special collections
Co-operative schemes in which the authority participates
Interlibrary loans
Loan periods
Loan charges
Fines
Other charges or sources of income
Equipment and facilities available to users, including disabled
Online resources available to users
Classification system used
Catalogue type and medium
Automated library system used
Services provided, including extramural and informational
Activities and entertainments provided
Figures for stock, issues and acquisitions
Details of acquisitions, including sources and co-operative programmes
Figures for enquiries
Staff figures
Income and expenditure figures
Details of recent or forthcoming capital projects
Any additional information

Branch Details

On the CD-ROM, each branch library and some of the authority's other services have brief entries of their own, listing contact details only. Each sub-entry has the following format:

Postal address
Telephone and fax numbers
Email address
Type of branch or service
Name of local authority
Any additional information

See Also

Legal Deposit Libraries
Archives and Local Studies Libraries
Special and Academic Libraries
Library and Information Organisations