Central Library

Venue notes

Departments

Children and young people
Business information
Art and drama collections
Reference library
 

Library map

Getting there

By bus: find information and plan your journey on the TravelWest website.

Parking

Cycling: There are bicycle stands at the front of the library.

Pay-and-display parking is available at both the front and rear of the library. There are nine spaces in College Square on parking meters, plus an area set aside for motorcycles/scooters.

Disabled parking is in front of the library near the ramp entrance. Badge holders may park free.

Accessibility

You can find an access guide on the DisabledGo website.

Resources

Help and advice

Community legal service: assisted information
Community Legal Service leaflets

Internet and computer equipment

Large keys keyboard: two available in the Disability Resource Centre
Large screen computer monitor
Magnifier monitor that magnifies print or objects onto a PC screen
Trackerball mouse
Wheelchair accessible computer desk

Other resources

Colour photocopier: A4 and A3
Magnifying glass for use in the library

Children activities

Baby bounce and rhyme: every Tuesday 10 to 10.30am. Free. No need to book. Run all year round.

Pre-school children's storytime: every Tuesday 11.30am to 12noon. Free. No need to book. Run all year round.

Rhymetime action songs for all: Saturdays 11.30am to 12noon. Free. No need to book. Run all year round.

Rhymetime in the afternoon: Mondays and Fridays 2 to 2.30pm. Free. No need to book. Run all year round.

School holiday activities: contact the library for details.

Reading group adults

Meets second Thursday of the month 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Shared reading group

Meets every Tuesday 2pm to 3.30pm. You don't need to do any reading beforehand. A group leader will read aloud the stories and poems. You can relax, listen and chat as we go. 

Visually impaired reading groups

Anyone who finds it difficult to read printed material is welcome to join.

We provide CDs and MP3s using the Calibre Audio Library and encourage members to suggest titles from the Calibre web site.

The Central Library group meets on the last Thursday of the month from 10.30am to 12pm. For more details, ring 01179036198 or email lending.library@bristol.gov.uk.

Holden play readers group

The Holden Play Readers group meet monthly to read works from the Central library's drama collection. If you’re new to the group and prefer not to read, you can join just to watch.

The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 5.45pm to 7pm in the Children's Library activity area. The area can be looped for those who wear hearing aids.

There’s tea and coffee for a small charge.

Events

We host a range of one off events including author talks and theatre performances.

For upcoming events at Bristol Central Library check our Eventbrite page or Facebook events page.

Lunchtime lectures

Talks to engage, inform and enlighten. Different speakers on different subjects each week. 

Thursdays at 12.30pm.

Drop in, free. 

For more information on upcoming talks, visit our Eventbrite page. 

Facilities

• Breastfeeding Welcome
• Photocopier
• Public Toilets
• Wheelchair Accessible Toilet