Books and Information

With a vast collection of over 180,000 items, Denbighshire Library Service has a wide range of books and information sources to support learners of all ages and interests, from picture books to popular fiction and the classics, and from topic and subject guides to reference and research materials.

Up to 10 items can be borrowed for 3 weeks at a time, all of which may be renewed further, if not requested by somebody else, by contacting the library in person, by phone, by email or via the on-line catalogue.

Each library offers a basic collection of books to be used at the library, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, local history materials, maps and council information as well as a selection of local and national newspapers.

In 2005/06, library staff dealt with 120,015 information enquiries, in person and online, which included:

a search for the Nepalese word for welcome
information about local classes in Japanese
primary school children looking for information about Mother Theresa
a GCSE student undertaking a study of deprivation and the regeneration of Rhyl
a postgraduate research on Mental Health Service provision in Denbighshire
an enquiry about Llangar Church
a request for details of a Second World War flying accident which occurred in December 1943.

Each library also holds details of local evening classes and college courses, and a collection of college prospectuses from across the UK. Details of local lectures, events, open days and theatre productions are available on library noticeboards, and the Clubs, Societies and Organisations Database provides access to a range of community learning activities and interest groups.

Request service
Books and information not immediately available at your local library can be requested free of charge from any other library in Denbighshire, an entitlement which is also extended to the stock of Flintshire Library and Information Service through a reciprocal borrowing partnership. Books can also be borrowed from other libraries across the UK through an interlending network, for which we charge postage costs.

Reading groups
The informal and stimulating setting of a reading group encourages many adults and young people to broaden their reading horizons by taking a risk on authors or literature they haven't read before. Members develop their confidence as readers and enjoy opportunities to share their reading experiences with other readers. Denbighshire libraries run 11 reading groups in libraries and support several others in the community. The library also has a collection of multiple copies of novels for reading groups to borrow free of charge.