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.



Alternate formats and accessibility


If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us on 0330 222 8339 or via email at countylibraries@westsussex.gov.uk and we will do our best to assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 0330 222 8339.

For more information about the accessibility of this website, please see our Accessibility tab (opens in new window) at the foot of the page.



Web browser compatibility


Please use one of the browsers below when sharing your memories to ensure it looks and works as it should. These are:

  • Microsoft Edge version 86 and above
  • Chrome version 86 and above
  • Firefox version 78 and above
  • Safari version 14 and above

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.



Alternate formats and accessibility


If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us on 0330 222 8339 or via email at countylibraries@westsussex.gov.uk and we will do our best to assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 0330 222 8339.

For more information about the accessibility of this website, please see our Accessibility tab (opens in new window) at the foot of the page.



Web browser compatibility


Please use one of the browsers below when sharing your memories to ensure it looks and works as it should. These are:

  • Microsoft Edge version 86 and above
  • Chrome version 86 and above
  • Firefox version 78 and above
  • Safari version 14 and above

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 A second generation librarian on Facebook Share A second generation librarian on Twitter Share A second generation librarian on Linkedin Email A second generation librarian link

    A second generation librarian

    by Hilary, 22 days ago

    Both of my parents worked in libraries, so you could say that they are in my blood. I suppose it was inevitable that I should choose librarianship as my career path too.

    Growing up, I was a regular at Saturday morning storytime in our local branch library in the Brighton area for many years. I think they had to keep increasing the target age range so that I could continue to attend. Afterwards I enjoyed choosing which books I would take home to read over the coming week and it was a big moment when I "graduated" from picture books... Continue reading

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  • Share The gambling man on Facebook Share The gambling man on Twitter Share The gambling man on Linkedin Email The gambling man link

    The gambling man

    by Maureen Saunders , 24 days ago

    by Catherine Cookson . I’m now 75 years old and when I was 35 i had a young family ( hardly time to read ) but I used to go to our local library in wallington to get books for my mum . She was completely deaf but loved to read books by Catherine Cookson . Of course I had to read the inside cover to see if I had got it out before , and that of course was the start of my journey into reading . Since then I have for my own pleasure read most of her... Continue reading

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  • Share My life in libraries on Facebook Share My life in libraries on Twitter Share My life in libraries on Linkedin Email My life in libraries link

    My life in libraries

    by Kath S, 25 days ago

    The photo of the member of staff flicking through the card catalogue brought back so many memories. I have been a library user for more than 50 years, starting out with those thrilling voyages of exploration in the children’s library at Doncaster public library as a child (books and rhyme & song – what is this place of wonder?). I then moved up to the adult library, wrestling with those card catalogues to help with my homework, and then my first Saturday job as a library assistant at 16. I was further delighted to encounter my first ‘OPAC’ machine at... Continue reading

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  • Share Books and cakes on Facebook Share Books and cakes on Twitter Share Books and cakes on Linkedin Email Books and cakes link

    Books and cakes

    by Veeat23 , 25 days ago
    When I was 10 the pretty little library at the Mulberry in Goring by Sea was built. Every Saturday morning would find me there for a couple of hours then across the road to the bakers to spend my pocket money on four of yesterday's cakes for 1/- or perhaps to a jumble sale in the nearby St Mary's church hall (where I was married and held my reception nine years later). Although I'm not at all musical I remember particularly liking a series of books on the lives of famous composers with music printed on every other page.


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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, 2 months 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, 2 months 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, 2 months 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, 2 months 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, 2 months 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., 2 months 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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Page last updated: 04 Apr 2025, 10:28 AM