Nottingham Central Library

The largest library in Nottingham and the principal library in the East Midlands, offering a range of general and specialised library services over 4 floors. The library is located in the same building as the Nottingham City Council Contact Centre.

We are making improvements to our IT network and self-service equipment at Nottingham Central Library and our 24-7 returns unit is currently not available. We're really sorry for the inconvenience, an improved service will be up and running again soon. Did you know that you can return your books and CD's to any library in any Nottingham or Nottinghamshire and of course you can renew them online too!

Public computers, free WiFi, study tables and seating are available throughout the building. Refreshments and toilets are located on Floor 2.

Opening Times:

Monday - 8.15* - 7.00
Tuesday - 8.15* - 7.00
Wednesday - 8.15* - 7.00
Thursday - 8.15* - 7.00
Friday - 8.15* - 5.30
Saturday - 9.00 - 4.00
Sunday - Closed
Bank holidays - Closed

*Ground Floor only until 9am (9:30am on Tuesdays)

Contact Information:

Tel: 0115 915 2828
Fax: 0115 915 2840
24-hour renewal line: 0845 330 4435
E-mail: enquiryline@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Address: Angel Row, Nottingham, NG1 6HP
Getting to Nottingham Central Library [188kb]
Room Bookings

View Nottingham Libraries in a larger map

Regular Activities:

All these events are free:

Totstime every Thursday, 10.45 - 11.15
Conversation class for learners of English every Thursday 3.30 - 5.50. For more information contact Jason on 0115 915 1180 or jason.mccormack@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
Children's storytime and crafts session second Saturday of every month, 11.15 - 12.00
Work Club every Wednesday 1.00 - 4.00. Advisors from the Meadows Partnership Trust will be on hand to help you with your job search For more info, contact Lee Sunderland at the Meadows Partnership Trust on: 0115 915 0079 or 07870 986260
Library Tours Ideal for new members. Find out all there is to know about the library including information on how to find what you need and the special collections available. Tours take place: 11am - 12 noon, meeting at the Ground Floor help desk, no booking required. For more information contact 0115 915 2825. Next tour dates are Friday 1 November and Friday 6 December

Ground Floor:

Fiction - including large print and talking books
Drop-in PCs
Children's Library
African Caribbean collection
Parents Collection
Adult Literacy collection, including life skills, basic maths and English
WiFi

Floor 1 - Local Studies Library:

Meeting rooms for hire
Exhibition space
Books, pamphlets and reports
Newspapers Broadsheets and printed ephemera
Family History
Historical directories
Local council documents
Maps
Nottinghamshire information index
Oral history recordings and transcripts, including the The Italian Connection project
Periodicals, news-sheets, reports from local clubs, societies and companies
Photographs
Book a computer
WiFi
Microfilm and Microfiche readers

Accessing the material: A small collection of materials for loan is available on Floor 1, but most of the Local Studies collection is for use in the library only. Please ask staff at the Help Desk to find the items you require.

Floor 2:

Meeting room and IT learning suite for hire
Book a computer
Books and reference materials: computers, sociology, religion, law, science, medicine, engineering, animals & pets, cookery, philosophy, psychology, languages and management.
Books in a wide range of Community languages - from Amharic to Welsh. There are also some reference books. The languages provided include Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi, and Urdu
Newspapers and magazines, including the Financial Times and a selection in other languages
InBusiness collection: company information and product information
UK phone directories, including Yellow Pages
Official Government Publications [15kb]
Health Information collection
Jobs Info Point: Careers information, courses, college and university prospectuses
Official Publications, legislation, White Papers and Hansard
Online reference and information instant access to full text information, including newspapers, business information, and the humanities
Fax and photocopier
Clearview Spectrum Machine - allows magnification of print in books, magazines etc.
WiFi
One2One computer help sessions
Study areas
Young People's area: with a fiction collection and other books and information on including careers, skills, relationships and music
Vending machines and toilets
UK Online Centre - offers free or low cost computer and internet access

Floor 3:

Books and reference materials: arts, crafts, music, theatre, film and television, biographies, travel and history
DVD collection: film, television (including box sets) and non-fiction such as documentaries and learning skills
Music CDs collection
Printed music - chamber, classical and popular; learning to play instruments
Music sets - available for loan to local music groups
Drama and Play sets - available for loan to registered drama groups
Broadsheet newspapers - dailies, Sundays and limited back files
Magazines covering the subjects on this floor - including limited back files
Maps and atlases - Ordnance Survey and foreign maps and atlases, for loan and reference use
Newspapers on microfilm - Times (1785 onwards), Guardian (1961-1994) and Sunday Times (1977 onwards), Times Digital Archive online
Book a computer
Photocopier
WiFi
Study areas