Information and IT Services

The borough's main information and reference enquiry service is based at Sutton library, and all branch libraries hold a selection of key reference books and materials. All Sutton libraries have Internet access, so the scope of information provision across the borough is quite extensive.

Sutton library holds a wide selection of reference resources including Whittaker's Almanac, press guides (Willings), HMSO and other Government publications, country-wide telephone directories and Yellow Pages, Who's Who, Acts of Parliament, Halsbury's Statutes, medical dictionaries, legal directories, Which? Consumer Reports, European information, Municipal Yearbook, and family history resources (IGI, census etc).

For further details about all library information services ring the Central Library on 020 8770 4700.

Business support

Sutton library provides various business resources including:

  • British Standards online
  • Business directories including Dun & Bradstreet (Business Register, Key British Enterprises, Who Owns Whom), Kompass, Kelly's Directories
  • A comprehensive collection of legal resources
  • Datamonitor online business intelligence database

 Newspapers and Periodicals

All libraries in the borough take a selection of daily national newspapers and magazines. The largest collections are taken at Sutton (all main national newspapers, and a wide selection of journals and magazines) and Wallington.

Back copies of newspapers and magazines are held at Sutton  library (some also at Wallington). Sutton and Wallington libraries provide access to The Times Online, a complete electronic record of the newspaper from 1785 to 1985. Back copies of daily newspapers from 1985 to the present day can also be accessed at these libraries via the online Infotrac service. International newspapers can also be viewed online.

IT Services 

Internet and web based email access is provided free of charge at all libraries in the borough (a small charge is made for print-outs). Users may book for a half hour session. All members of the public are entitled to use the Internet in the library, on production of identity - library membership is not required. Click on the Online PC Booking Form to book a session on a computer in any of Sutton's nine libraries.

A home page has been set up to guide users to some of the most popular and useful information and recreational resources. This "24 hour reference library" is available in all libraries and now also on the web.

Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher,and MS Access are available on
all computers,and scanning and CD copying services are available at Sutton library and branch libraries.

IT Services - IT training

The library service runs occasional Internet training courses including introduction to the Internet, getting started with email, and effective use of search engines. These are held on an ad-hoc basis at various libraries around the borough. Check with Sutton library staff for details of forthcoming sessions.

BBC Webwise and Computers Don't Bite training CDs are also available for use in some libraries.

Fax & Photocopying services

There is a basic fax and photocopying service available at Sutton library and at all other libraries in the borough (except Beddington library).

Sutton library also provides colour photocopying facilities