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 Still thrilling! on Facebook Share Still thrilling! on Twitter Share Still thrilling! on Linkedin Email Still thrilling! link

    Still thrilling!

    by Wendy J, 3 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, 3 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., 3 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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  • 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 , 3 months 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

  • Share Infectious diseases on Facebook Share Infectious diseases on Twitter Share Infectious diseases on Linkedin Email Infectious diseases link

    Infectious diseases

    by Ros W, 3 months 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, 3 months 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, 3 months 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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  • Share A place to feel at home on Facebook Share A place to feel at home on Twitter Share A place to feel at home on Linkedin Email A place to feel at home link

    A place to feel at home

    by Jonas , 3 months ago
    I remember always going to the reference section

    Always working through some amazing reference books and being fascinated be the knowledge and processes I found there
    I know that is why I became an engineer
    big thank you



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  • Share My love of books on Facebook Share My love of books on Twitter Share My love of books on Linkedin Email My love of books link

    My love of books

    by Heather, 3 months ago

    I have always loved books. As a child I was lucky enough to be presented with books as gifts, we had many books at home and I read anything, Enid Blyton, Noel Streatfield, Kenneth Grahame, Louisa Alcott, (a particular favourite) and even my parents Punch books which had wonderful illustrations and were so funny.

    But of course, we had a wonderful library, living in Coulsdon in my youth, and so often went there and took ages pondering which ones to borrow. I remember also, when in my teens, that one of the librarians was also rather good looking so the... Continue reading

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  • Share Introduction of videos to West Sussex on Facebook Share Introduction of videos to West Sussex on Twitter Share Introduction of videos to West Sussex on Linkedin Email Introduction of videos to West Sussex link

    Introduction of videos to West Sussex

    by Hilary, 3 months ago
    Wendy in Bib Services and I chose which videotapes would be part of the first collection offered by West Sussex Libraries in 1989. We were instructed to choose informative and educational titles rather than feature films because we were not going to compete with high street rental stores. At the time, I was an Assistant Librarian at Worthing Library, in the first year of working in a professional post. I remember being photographed for the local paper holding a video case when the pilot collection launched.
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Page last updated: 06 May 2025, 11:48 AM