Community library service

If you can’t access your local library due to temporary or permanent illness, frailty or special needs, we can deliver library material to your home. The service is free and users receive a visit to their home every four weeks.

We also deliver collections of books to nurseries, day centres and residential units and visit patients at Homerton Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospice on a weekly basis, and we can also deliver large print books and talking books on CD. We also have a large selection of films on DVD, music CDs, and jigsaws.

You can also download free ebooks and audiobooks as well as e-magazines and e-newspapers on your devices for free when you join our service.

Join the community library service

You can request to join the community library service for yourself or on behalf of someone else:

• call us on 020 8356 5238
• email us home.visitlibrary@hackney.gov.uk

Community library service film

This short film gives potential users information on the breadth of materials on offer, service details and joining information.

Who can use the service?

Any Hackney resident can use the service on a temporary or long-term basis. There are no age restrictions. The main criteria is that you cannot access a library because of an accident such as a broken leg, illness, frailty, disability or because you are a full-time carer.

How much does it cost?

The service is free. There are no charges for deliveries, for overdue items or loan reservations of any items.

How does the service work?

We deliver on a monthly rota basis, to people in their own homes, sheltered blocks and nursing homes and provide deposit loan collections to groups such as day centres, nurseries and homeless hostels. We also provide a weekly trolley service at St Joseph’s Hospice and Homerton Hospital.

Telephone reading group

People at home, especially the housebound, or carer’s can be a part of a reading group. It works on a conference call set-up with up to eight people on the call together talking about a book they have all been given to read. We deliver the book in the required format (ordinary print, large print or talking book) and facilitate the event with two members of CSV Hackney (Community Service Volunteers). The reading group meets every 6 weeks. Contact us for more information.