Tell us about your library memories

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A group of four girls running towards a mobile library van outside Durrington Library in 1974

In 2025 West Sussex Library Service is 100 years old!

To celebrate, we’re planning a year filled with events and activities. As part of the celebrations, we’re asking you to share your special library memories.

In 2025 West Sussex Library Service is 100 years old!

To celebrate, we’re planning a year filled with events and activities. As part of the celebrations, we’re asking you to share your special library memories.

Share your library experience

Do you remember getting your first library card, finding a favourite spot in the library, or making new friends at a library activity? 

We want to hear your stories and what your library means to you.

You can share written, visual or video memories; if you're sharing images, please make sure you have the consent of everyone who is included.

You can share as many memories as you like - to submit pictures or videos, select the picture icon or video camera icon that appear when you click in the box.

Don't forget, once they are approved by our admin team, any stories you share will be publicly visible and may be used in internal or external newsletters, displayed in our libraries and shared on our social media accounts. 


Thank you for sharing your library memory with us. 

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

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  • Share Libaray Tickets on Facebook Share Libaray Tickets on Twitter Share Libaray Tickets on Linkedin Email Libaray Tickets link

    Libaray Tickets

    by JL Pniewski, 18 days ago
    I remember going to Bognor Library in the 1970's with my Mum. We had flexible orange Tickets that were fed into a slot on the desk whenever we borrowed or returned a book. These tickets contained holes punched in that the computer would read. It will have been my first interaction with a computer and today I still wonder what sort of huge machine was behind the scenes.
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  • Share Unlocking the world of classical music on Facebook Share Unlocking the world of classical music on Twitter Share Unlocking the world of classical music on Linkedin Email Unlocking the world of classical music link

    Unlocking the world of classical music

    by Charles, 22 days ago
    My earliest memory of Chichester library was over fifty years ago. As a school boy I wanted to develop an interest in classical music and remarkably the library introduced a lending service for classical LPs. There was a sizeable collection of LPs on display and after you had made your choice a helpful and knowledgeable librarian packaged your LP in a specially designed cardboard box. You could then take it home. There was no limit on the number of times you could use the service provided you did not take out more than two records at a time. It was... Continue reading
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  • Share The joy of libraries on Facebook Share The joy of libraries on Twitter Share The joy of libraries on Linkedin Email The joy of libraries link

    The joy of libraries

    by JanH, 22 days ago
    In the 1960s we moved to the Strand in Worthing - I was 3 and Mum took us to the library at Field Place. I can still remember the joy I felt at being able to take a book home. It was Orlando the Marmalade Cat. This love for books and reading has been with me all my life.
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  • Share Still thrilling! on Facebook Share Still thrilling! on Twitter Share Still thrilling! on Linkedin Email Still thrilling! link

    Still thrilling!

    by Wendy J, 22 days ago
    Born and raised in Essex, my first memory of the Library was being taken by my Mum to borrow children's books from Rayleigh library. I loved to sit on the small plastic chairs, flicking through the books and 'oh the thrill' of walking home with an arm full. Not to mention to the wonderful 'thud thud' sound of the the librarian stamping our books and card. Sheer joy.

    Having moved to Sussex and adopted two young children, I wanted them to experience the same thrill, and we began visiting Haywards Heath library. I was not disappointed and nor where they... Continue reading

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  • Share 3 different Libraries since I had a ticket on Facebook Share 3 different Libraries since I had a ticket on Twitter Share 3 different Libraries since I had a ticket on Linkedin Email 3 different Libraries since I had a ticket link

    3 different Libraries since I had a ticket

    by By Andrea H, 24 days ago
    My first experience was in the building on the left hand side of St Mark’s Church North Street. I later realised exactly the same sort of “hall” as St Mary’s School attended on the right hand side of St Mark’s Church. It was quite a dark hall with floorboards! Then new Library in North Street by the horse trough and I was allowed to go by myself to get books. I remember liking (not sure of spelling) Bunkle Books and Library seemed very clean and modern! Then of course now “Horsham Library “ with lots of computers and self check... Continue reading
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  • Share What to look for. on Facebook Share What to look for. on Twitter Share What to look for. on Linkedin Email What to look for. link

    What to look for.

    by KevinS., 28 days ago
    My mum took me to Southwick Library when I was 7 years old - 1960-ish.

    We weren't a bookish family by any means at all. The only books I remembered seeing at home were the Rupert Annuals which appeared each Christmas. But - bless her - my mum took me down and I joined the library.

    I remember a quiet atmosphere and - of course - ranks and ranks of books. I didn't have a clue where to begin. I dimly remember an ancient librarian (probably late 30s) asking me what I was interested in. "Nature" I answered.

    She kindly... Continue reading

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  • Share Space to learn and grow. on Facebook Share Space to learn and grow. on Twitter Share Space to learn and grow. on Linkedin Email Space to learn and grow. link

    Space to learn and grow.

    by Wendy4985 , 28 days ago

    Library tickets. These little cardboard pockets that you were given upon registering with a library. The date stamp. The page with all the punched ink dates on it for when you had to return the book. The library was important to me due to it was quiet space. I could go and browse the books for hours on end. It was important to me because is where I picked up my first book on how to do word processing. Computers had just started to become familar and it was transitioning from typewriter to word processor. Being able to self study... Continue reading

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    Infectious diseases

    by Ros W, 28 days ago

    One of the library rules, as shown by the 1925 bye laws that you display, demonstrate that infectious diseases could be a problem - don’t hand back library books if the household had an infectious disease!
    this was still the case when I was a child, before antibiotics became routinely available. My sister and I were avid readers and when we both went down with “scarlet fever” my parents had to report the fact to the librarian of our local library.


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  • Share Escapism every Saturday Morning on Facebook Share Escapism every Saturday Morning on Twitter Share Escapism every Saturday Morning on Linkedin Email Escapism every Saturday Morning link

    Escapism every Saturday Morning

    by Sarah G, 29 days ago
    My first memory of using the library was going into Durrington library after school in the 1960's. It wasn't a long walk as we lived in a flat over the shops next door. I vividly remember the satisfying clunk as the books were stamped out!

    Later, when I was 7 or 8, my sister and I cycled to Worthing library (the old building next to the Museum) every Saturday morning. I remember settling myself in the children's library, usually by a radiator, and reading for 2 or 3 hours while my sister studied for her O'levels. 'Milly, Molly, Mandy' books... Continue reading

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  • Share 70 years of loving libraries on Facebook Share 70 years of loving libraries on Twitter Share 70 years of loving libraries on Linkedin Email 70 years of loving libraries link

    70 years of loving libraries

    by Val B, 29 days ago
    My mother took me to the library in an old hall in Horsham in 1954 when I was 3 and my first book was Jemima Puddle Duck. Then our new purpose built library was opened and I loved Enid Blyton, Malcolm Saville, ....well everyone really.! And then finally in 2002 I got a job in Bognor Library....and I loved that too!

    Happy Birthday Library Service, you've been a huge part of my life.

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Page last updated: 24 Feb 2025, 09:23 AM