Free Support from your Local Library
Our Blaenau Gwent Libraries can offer local residents a wide range of free support, access to services and a welcoming space to relax or work.
Warm and Welcoming Spaces
Our libraries offer a cosy setting to sit and relax, whether you would like to lose yourself in a few chapters of a book, get some work done, check your email or even enjoy some arts and crafts with friends.
Computers, Printing and Wi-Fi
Each of our libraries has a range of computers that are free to use for library members, offering access to the internet, email and Microsoft office. Printing and photocopying services are also available for a small fee.
Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout our libraries, and we have spaces for people to sit with their own laptops, tablets or mobile devices, and of course electrical outlets to keep them charged.
Books, Magazines and Newspapers
If you love to read but struggle with the cost of buying books, magazines or newspapers your local library can help!
In addition to having a huge selection of fiction and non-fiction titles to borrow for adults and children, library members can also borrow digital copies of e-Books, e-Audiobooks, e-Magazines and even e-Newspapers.
Don’t forget - our libraries are fines-free, so you don’t have to worry about late fees when returning any overdue books.
If you are unable to visit your local library, we also have a Home Delivery service available.
Community Hubs
Each of our libraries provides access to Blaenau Gwent Council services through the Community Hub scheme as well as a wide range of support from other organisations including Barclays Bank, Welsh Water, Pobl, DWP, Carers groups, Llamau and Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
Activities and Clubs
Our libraries host a wide range of free activities throughout the year for adults and children.
In addition to free school holiday activities, our libraries also host arts and crafts, storytelling, author workshops and coding sessions for children of all ages.
For adults there are also hobby clubs, a variety of crafts, creative writing groups, reminiscence sessions, local history sessions, advice and support on how to research your family tree.
Sports Libraries
As well as offering book loans, our libraries also provide the opportunity to borrow a range of free sport and exercise equipment to use at home, for up to 3 weeks.
Exercise equipment includes resistance bands, kettlebells, yoga mats and fit balls.
Sport equipment includes sets for badminton, table tennis, bowls, tennis, cricket as well as foam flyers and a range of balls (football, rugby, basketball, netball).
Reading Well Collections
Organised by The Reading Agency, Reading Well supports people in understanding and managing their health and wellbeing using helpful reading.
Reading Well books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers, covering a wide range of health and wellbeing topics. Find out more here.
Free Digital Resources
Our libraries offer a variety of online services and resources including:
Theory Test Pro to help you prepare for your driving theory test.
Find My Past and Ancestry to research your family history.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica Student and Britannica Junior to aid your research.
Green Libraries
Libraries have always been at the forefront of sustainability with free book loans, but now library members can also borrow litter picking sets from their local library, as well as collect free food recycling bags and during the summer can even access a seed library with each book loan, enabling them to grow their very own vegetable gardens at home.
For more information on our libraries or services please visit Blaenau Gwent Libraries website here.
If you would like to become a member of your local library, you can join the library for free here.