About us

Sutton libraries are welcoming, creative, and safe spaces where visitors can experience high quality public services. There are 8 libraries which are all free to access.

Working in partnership with our community, we provide a wide range of activities for people of all ages and walks of life. Your library supports everything from early years development, digital literacy, community activities, to study space, cultural celebrations, and accessing council services.

Libraries currently offer services which customers can access freely like wifi and borrowing and returning books. Many of these services are already set up enabling customers to self-serve. Digital access is freely available through our library service platform where residents can access eBooks, digital magazines and newspapers.

Visit Sutton Libraries website.

Our services

Rhymetime, Summer Reading Club and family activities

Sutton libraries are committed to ensuring children develop skills that prepare them for school and support their education.

We provide:

  • our popular sing-along Rhymetimes and storytimes for babies and preschoolers take place regularly in each library
  • a Summer Reading Club encourages children to keep up their reading over the school summer holidays
  • a wide range of fun and educational family activities throughout the year that explores everything from local history to STEAM activities

Find out about Rhymetime, Summer Reading Club and family activities.

Digital offer

Our digital service provides residents with 24/7 access to online learning materials as well as digital content that can be downloaded and enjoyed anywhere.

Our ‘My Library App’ gives residents access to all our digital resources wherever they want to access them via their personal digital device. Our online digital offer is supported in libraries with:

  • free public computer access
  • free wifi
  • clubs and events including coding clubs
  • basic IT skills sessions for adults
  • researching family history

Find out about the digital offer.

Culture and Creativity

Culture and the arts can keep us healthy and support longer lives better lived. Sutton libraries have an extensive and diverse cultural programme. In 2022, we celebrated Lunar New Year, learned about the traditions of Diwali, and listened to stories and journeys during Pride Month.

The council is a recipient of the Cultural Impact Award from The Mayor of London. The Sutton STEAMs Ahead programme explores science through art and culture. We are building a legacy with our local artists, community and cultural providers to establish sustained participation in a variety of cultural experiences.

Purple dragon from Chinese new year celebration

Find out about culture and creativity.

Community groups

Our libraries are at the centre of Sutton’s community life supporting and hosting a wide array of community groups, charities and other local organisations providing, for example:

  • weekly reading and hobby groups that reduce social isolation and improve mental health
  • an events programmes that encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles, for example chair yoga
  • information and advice services and partnerships that provide a vital lifeline to our most vulnerable residents

Volunteering

With over 200 active volunteers giving over 6,000 hours in 2022, our volunteer programme offers:

  • a diverse range of volunteer opportunities
  • the chance to meet people
  • try something new
  • give something back
  • learn skills that support career development

Volunteer playing table tennis

Find out about volunteering.

Archives and Local Studies

Learn about the history on your doorstep and the stories that have shaped the area where you live.

The Library of Things

The Library of Things is a social enterprise in Sutton Library that helps people save money and reduce waste by affordably renting out useful items like drills, sound systems and sewing machines from local spaces and by helping neighbours share practical skills.

Storage for everything available from The library of things

Sutton Gallery

We host exhibitions, workshops and events on a range of topics and subjects in Sutton Central Library

Heritage Services

Working closely with our libraries, Sutton Heritage services support the cultural programme and manage Whitehall Historic House, Honeywood Museum, and Little Holland House museums.

Facts about Sutton libraries

Did you know that:

  • 43% of London Borough of Sutton residents have library membership
  • residents borrowed over 700,000 books in 2022
  • 70% of books borrowed were taken out or returned using self-service
  • we were open for 23,000 hours across our 8 libraries
  • customers accessed over 660,000 digital resources
  • 710,000 customers visited a London Borough of Sutton library

The libraries consortium

The libraries consortium is made up of of 23 local authorities with over 320 libraries, that allows our library members access to an exciting new Libraries Digital Platform, including:

  • Over 7 million books
  • Over 40,000 eBooks
  • Over 800 digital magazines
  • Nearly 5,000 eAudiobooks and other digital resources

Bookshelves from one of Sutton's libraries

Find out about The Libraries Consortium.