Skip to main content

Join the library

 

Joining Brighton and Hove City Libraries is free and open to all living, studying or working in Brighton and Hove. You can join at any one of our libraries or online.

Join online

Anyone from birth onwards can join online (a parent or guardian should fill in the form on behalf of a child 12 years old or under). Please read and click to accept the membership conditions below to take you to the joining form. You will be given a temporary membership number and PIN which will allow you to use our online services and reserve books. To collect reservations and borrow items from a library, you will need to change your online membership to full membership by bringing your temporary membership number and PIN to your nearest staffed library.

Membership information

  • Books and other items can be borrowed for three weeks; DVDs and CDs can be hired for one week.
  • You may borrow up to 30 items on your card, and these can be returned to any library in Brighton and Hove. After-hours book drops are available at some libraries.
  • Email reminders of due dates are sent as a courtesy reminder to bring things back on time or renew.
  • You can renew items up to four times in total at any library. There is an automated 24 hour renewals service on 03031 230035. Staff can renew items over the telephone during opening hours, please have your library card number on hand. If you have an item that someone else has reserved, you won’t be able to renew it.
  • Overdue fines are charged for the late return of some items.
  • If the item you want is already on loan, you can reserve it for a small fee. If the item you want is not in our stock, you can request to borrow it from another library service on payment of a fee.
  • You can make a suggestion for us to buy, but we will not hold this item for you unless the required fee is paid.
  • Some borrowers may be entitled to exemption from charges or concessionary rates, please contact a member of staff for details.
  • Brighton and Hove Libraries are part of the SELMS consortium which gives you access to stock in other public library services. Your borrower record will be held on a shared database but your details will only be available to staff in another authority if you choose to borrow or reserve items from that authority. All data is held strictly in accordance with the requirements of current Data Protection legislation. If you would like more information please see our Privacy Notice.

Conditions of membership

  • You must use your library membership card to borrow items.
  • Your membership will be suspended if you have overdue items and outstanding charges.
  • You will be charged for any loss or damage to anything you have borrowed.
  • You will be charged fees for overdue items and some services (subject to status).
  • All reservation, inter-library loan and lost membership card charges are non-refundable.
  • If you change your address or name please notify us immediately.
  • Please report lost cards to the library immediately. You will be held responsible for any items borrowed before the loss is reported.
  • You must live, work or study in Brighton and Hove.

Acceptance

Click the button below to accept these conditions and go to the joining form.

View my active saved list