Littlehampton Library
The town's public library and community resource
Littlehampton Library is a public library operated by West Sussex County Council, providing free access to books, information, digital resources and community space for the residents of the town and surrounding area. The library occupies premises in the town centre and serves as both a lending library and a community hub, offering services that extend well beyond the traditional book-lending function.
The library's collection includes fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children, large-print titles, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines and a reference collection. The lending service is free for residents who register for a library card, and books can be reserved, renewed and returned through the library's online catalogue as well as in person. The inter-library loan service allows residents to request books held at other West Sussex libraries, expanding the effective collection far beyond what a single branch can hold.
Public internet computers are available at the library, providing free access to the internet, email and basic office software. The computers serve residents who do not have internet access at home, including older residents, job seekers and those on low incomes for whom the cost of broadband and devices is a barrier. Free wifi is also available for visitors who bring their own devices. The digital access provided by the library is an increasingly important part of its role, as more government services, job applications and everyday transactions move online.
Children's activities are a regular feature of the library programme, including storytelling sessions, reading groups, craft activities and the Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages children to continue reading during the school holidays. These activities are free and open to all, and they play an important role in fostering a love of reading and a habit of library use that can last a lifetime. The children's section of the library is colourful and welcoming, designed to make books accessible and appealing to young readers.
Adult activities include reading groups, local history resources, health information, career guidance materials and access to online learning platforms. The library also hosts occasional talks, exhibitions and community meetings, making use of its space to serve the wider cultural and social life of the town. The local history collection, which includes books, maps, photographs and archives relating to Littlehampton's past, is a valuable resource for researchers and those with an interest in the town's heritage.
The future of public libraries is a subject of national debate, with funding pressures leading to reduced hours, staff cuts and, in some areas, branch closures. Littlehampton Library continues to serve the community, but the financial environment within which it operates is challenging. The library's value is measured not just in books borrowed but in the social connections it facilitates, the digital access it provides and the role it plays as a free, welcoming, inclusive public space in the heart of the town.
The library building itself is a public asset, providing a warm, safe, quiet space in the town centre that is open to everyone regardless of background, income or purpose. In a world where most public spaces are commercial, requiring a purchase to justify one's presence, the library stands as a genuinely free and inclusive space where anyone can sit, read, think, learn and connect with others.