How to contact Thornbury Library

Address: St Mary Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AA
Phone: 01454 868006
Fax: 01454 865657
Email:
Website: www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries
Librarian: Rebecca Furness

Standard Library opening hours

There’s a spine-tingling adventure waiting for children in Thornbury Library this Summer!

The theme for the Summer Reading Challenge this year is Creepy House. The challenge begins on July 13 and runs until September 14. It’s free to join in the fun.

Children are challenged to read just 6 books to collect their very own medal and certificate. More than 6,100 children took part in Story Lab last summer.

The parent of one child who did said 'I thought the Summer Reading Challenge was a fantastic incentive to encourage my son to read throughout the summer. He thoroughly enjoyed taking part and couldn’t wait to reach silver to get his wristband. The gold medal at the end was a really nice touch and made my son feel special.’

Visit Thornbury Library this summer for children to take part in Creepy House and collect their own gold medal.

Libraries are also holding free activities throughout the holiday to help children complete the challenge. Visit Thornbury library or log on to www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries to find out more.

For more Creepy House fun visit www.creepy-house.org.uk.

A Message from Thornbury's New Librarian

"I am delighted to be your new Librarian at Thornbury Library.

My name is Rebecca Furness, and I have worked for South Gloucestershire Library Service for 5 years in Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Filton Libraries.

Previously I was a primary school teacher, for 9 years, in various parts of the UK and also in an international school in Warsaw, Poland.

I am passionate about libraries, reading and new technologies which allow everyone to share ideas and communicate.

I decided to follow this passion and I re-trained to become a Librarian, graduating in 2011.

It is a pleasure to join the dedicated and friendly staff team at Thornbury, who have made me very welcome.

I look forward to meeting you and to receiving any suggestions or feedback you have to promote your local library.

Coffee Morning

Come along to our new coffee morning every Wednesday between 10.30 and 11.30am.

Bookstart Bear Club for pre-school children

We hold FREE Monday afternoon pre-school Story times from 2.15pm-2.45pm.

We also run Friday morning Rhyme times 11–11.30am for younger children.

Please note these sessions are held during term time only, but we also hold regular holiday activities.

Pre-school children and their parents and carers are most welcome to attend these FREE fun activities, which are also an opportunity to meet up in a relaxed setting.

Membership of our Bookstart Bear Club is FREE and is open to all pre-school children who belong to the library and come along to our story-time sessions.

Children will get a joining pack and after they have attended a number of sessions they will be entitled to a certificate. We also have a song and mascot – why not join and find out more!

Nervous about computers?

Don’t panic! Thornbury Library can help!

In partnership with Age UK South Gloucestershire we offer computer lessons for people aged 50+. A single lesson costs £4 but we offer a series of four lessons for £15.

We also have a resident computer support volunteer who can help with quick queries e.g. how to set up an email address. Mike will be available on Monday mornings from 10am-12noon.

If you are having trouble tracing your family tree using the family history website Ancestry then Mike can help. Just ask for details. This website is also available on our library computers.

Filton College will be offering a FREE basic 18 week computer course. Once again just ask for details.

Mobile Library

The Mobile Library is free to join and borrow books from. Books in Large Print and Children’s books are available as well as popular authors and recent publications. If we don’t have the author or subject available on board it can be reserved for free to be collected next visit. We also stock Talking Books (in both CD and Cassette format), Jigsaws and a selection of films on DVD.

You can use the Mobile Library service even if you also use another library so South Gloucestershire library cards or Active Cards are valid on board. The Mobile Library is equipped with a lift for people with mobility problems.

For details of routes and times click here to visit South Gloucestershire's Mobile Library page or call 01454 868006.

Free Resource Loan for Early Years Practitioners

South Gloucestershire Library Services is making four resources boxes available to Early Years Practitioners in Pre-schools, Nurseries and Childminding settings.

These are: Healthy eating box, Dental health box, Hand Washing Machine and Physical Play Box *Please note that Thornbury library has a Healthy Eating Box and Dental Health Box only.

Resources can be booked in person by calling into the library or by phoninging 01454 868006. Bookings are for one or two weeks, except the hand washing machine, which can be booked for one week only. Items can be booked for the same or different weeks.

Resources can be collected on the Monday morning for the week they have been booked or at any other time during that week. Sometimes resources can be collected at the weekend but please check they are available for collection before turning up! Resources must be returned by the Friday of the week(s) booked.

It is the responsibility of the borrower to check that all items are checked and tidy before returning to the library – so the box is ready for use by the next setting. Please leave the box as you would wish to find it. Library staff are unable to check items on return. If any items are missing or damaged please inform library staff or contact Liz Oxford 01454 863839.

We need you to complete the evaluation form so we can continue to make necessary changes or improvements to the system. Please return your completed form when you return your item(s) in the envelope provided.

Library Reference and Information Service

As well as the reference resources available in the library and on-line on our website you can also contact our Library Enquiry Centre based in Somerset.

The Library Enquiry Centre offers a comprehensive service for all your information needs. Specialist librarians at the Centre have access to information resources not available in your library. You can contact The Enquiry Centre by phone (local rate), email, letter or fax. They will answer your enquiry immediately or get back to you with the information you require.

The Library Enquiry Centre also offers a range of business information solutions to support intending, new and established businesses. We have access to business databases, industry overviews, business directories and journals. We provide a free enquiry service to all business users. So, whether you are taking your first steps as a future entrepreneur, or already have a well-established business the Library Enquiry Centre will be able to help.

To contact the Library Enquiry Centre:

Phone: 01454 866900 (local rate)
Email: askthelibrary@southglos.gov.uk
Fax: 01823 336370
Text: 07919 540839
Hours: Mon-Fri 9.00-6.00pm; Sat 9.00-4.30pm

Home Library Service

If you enjoy reading but are housebound and unable to get to the library (even if it’s a temporary incapacity due to an operation etc.) or you find your library books are too heavy to carry home, our friendly and helpful home library service volunteers can deliver library books to you in your own home.

Just give the library a ring or ask a friend or relative to contact us on your behalf.

Did you know you can also ask ‘Four Towns & Vale Link Community Transport’ to bring you to the Library? Just ask us for details. Or why not try our Mobile Library?

Active card

The Leisure Trust, Council and NHS of South Gloucestershire have created a new Active card to cover library and leisure.

Now one card fits all - it lets you borrow books, access the Internet at libraries, have a swim or use the gym. This is not all about sport and fitness - more about a balanced lifestyle, full of interest, vibrancy, reading, learning, playing and health.

All this on offer, and it's free to join! Pop in to the library or leisure centre to join, or visit: www.activecard.co.uk

The Active card replaces many of the existing cards you currently use in South Gloucestershire. When you join the Active scheme you'll have access to information and updates about what's going on, so you and your family can get active.

You also have the oppportunity to upgrade your card and save money on activities.

Oral history tapes

We have a collection of over 40 tapes which were kindly donated to us by the Thornbury and District Oral History Society. These tapes contain personal memories of life in and around Thornbury in days gone by and are available for hire free of charge.

Overdues and reservation notifications by e-mail

Last year it cost the library service over £12,000 to send out overdues and reservation notifications by post. Please help us to save money by providing us with your current e-mail address. This could benefit you as it's quicker and we could also tell you about library events/new books etc. We have recently introduced pre-overdues but only for readers who have elected to receive information from us via email. If you would like to receive this service and have an e-mail address please contact us.

Thornbury Gazette

Back copies are now available on microfilm. These go back to 1955, but the further back we go the more gaps we have. If you want to consult back copies please contact us first so that we can confirm we have the dates you require and can set up the micro-film reader. Please note it is rather old and does not print.

Rooms for Hire

Please contact the Library for details.

Premium DVDs

We have a Premium DVD service. This includes the very latest DVDs which can be hired for £3.60 per week. Please note these DVDs cannot be renewed or reserved. Click here to see the latest films available.

Music CDs

Whatever your musical interests, our libraries have a range of CDs for you to enjoy. Click here to see some of the latest CDs on order. Please note only some of these will be available at Thornbury. Click here to search our library catalogue for more titles

Cost: It costs 95p per week to hire a CD (concessions available); that's around the same cost as downloading a single MP3 track. 

Reservations: You can also reserve CDs at your local library or make an online reservation using our library catalogue. There is a small charge for this.

Are you eligible for library concessions?

If you are in receipt of one of the following you are entitled to concessions:
Working family tax credit; disability living allowance; housing benefit; state pension; disabled person's tax credit; widows benefit; income support; industrial disablement benefit; incapacity benefit; student in full time education.
We will require initial proof of benefit. In most cases the concession will entitle you to half-price reservations, music CDs and spoken word tapes. In addition if you are visually impaired or housebound you will not be required to pay any charge (including overdue charges).

Top Titles

We stock multiple copies of each of the top ten selling paperbacks.

Fax/photocopying/laminating

We offer a fax, photocopying and laminating service.

For more information on any of the above items please ring the library on 01454 868006 or visit our web-site: www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries

You can use the website to renew your books, check the catalogue, reserve items and consult a wide range of on-line reference materials including Oxford English Dictionary Online; Oxford Reference Online; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; Grove Music Online; Grove Art Online. You will need your borrower number and pin number (available from the library).

We have a 24 hour renewal line on 08450 020 777, and can inform you of reservations and overdue items either by email, text or voice message. If you would like to opt into any of these you can change the details online, ask at the counter or ring on the above number. Please note to access many of these services you may be asked for your PIN number, please ask the staff for this.

For reference enquiries try our Library Enquiry Centre on 01454 866900 or email .

We also offer free internet access and word processing.