Brisbane City Council Libraries offer a welcoming environment for people of all cultural backgrounds. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Brisbane can join the library and membership is free.
Joining a library can be a great way to improve your English language skills, access free events and also get assistance in finding research materials and reading for your studies.
To become a member, visit your local library and show proof of your current residential address plus photo identification or proof of signature. You will also need to agree to the terms and conditions of library membership which will be shown to you when you join.
Library members gain access to a collection of more than one million items in 32 library branches including books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs and reference material. Selected libraries have collections available in languages such as Chinese, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
Brisbane Square Library, in Brisbane’s Central Business District, has collections and newspapers in other languages. Languages not found on our library shelves can be accessed online and through the library catalogue. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.
At your Council library, you will find:
- books, magazines, local and international newspapers
- children’s storytime, homework help, play spaces and reading programs
- meeting rooms and study areas
- online catalogue
- online databases with free access to more than 40 online reference databases and full-text newspapers from around the world
- photocopying facilities
- books, magazines, local and international newspapers
- CDs, DVDs, ebooks and audio books.
Membership at Council libraries is free and gives you access to all 32 library branches.
Research help for study, business, work or hobby
databases
Library members gain free access to more than 40 online databases with newspaper and journal articles, encyclopaedias and information on a range of subjects including business, health, science, authors and student resources.
visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/librariesand click on Library Catalogue, Databases to begin searching.
ask a librarian
Ask a Librarian is a service designed to connect you to the information you need, when you need it. Professional librarians are available to assist you Monday to Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
You can access Ask a Librarian through live online chat, email or phone (07) 3403 8888. You can also visit any of the 32 Council Libraries and speak with a librarian in person. Our friendly staff are always happy to help.
yourtutor
Brisbane City Council Libraries offer a free online service that connects primary and high school students to qualified, expert tutors in Maths, Science and English subjects.
You can chat online with a tutor, share documents, images, web pages and illustrate ideas. Yourtutor also provides project and assignment support and covers school years 4 to 12.
To access Yourtutor:
- visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries
- click on ‘Yourtutor’
- select your level and subject.
As a library member you can access Yourtutor online Monday to Friday 4-8pm.
Events, activities and workshops
Council Libraries host more than 300 events, activities and workshops every month including children’s storytime, musical performances, author talks, computer workshops, social groups, book clubs, sustainable living seminars, fashion talks and more.
Each month Council Libraries publish the What’s On listing all of the events coming up in libraries. You can view the latest What’s On online at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/librariesor pick up a copy at your local library.
Borrowing and returning items
When you become a library member, you will receive a library card which you can use to borrow up to 20 items at a time from any Council library.
You can also use your library card to place holds on items currently on loan, renew loans you would like to keep for a little longer, and access online databases.
If an item you want is not available through our library service, you may be able to borrow the item through other libraries in Australia using the interlibrary loan service. One of our friendly staff will be able to help you arrange this.
Council libraries have special collections of bestseller and new release books called FastBacks, which can be borrowed for up to seven days. This means you have a good chance of finding a popular or new release book without having to wait, great for avid readers.
All FastBack titles are also available for normal 28 day loans through the library collection.
Where is my nearest library?
Brisbane City Council has 32 library branches across Brisbane. With the exception of West End and Bulimba libraries, all Council libraries are wheelchair accessible.
To find the library closest to you visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.
Council also has a custom-built mobile library which visits various stops in Brisbane. To find out if the mobile library stops near you visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries or pick up a Mobile Library Calendar at a library branch.