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Announcements

Introducing the Playaway Player

New Malden library now has a collection of Playaway Digital Audio Books in stock. These are light and portable – like an iPod – and you listen through headphones, or can even plug them into your car or home audio system. The collection includes a range of mainly fiction books - with authors such as Philippa Gregory, Jodi Picoult and Ian Rankin – but there are also some non-fiction titles, and language courses as well. They can be borrowed on an ordinary Kingston Libraries ticket for a 3 week loan period. Ideal for listening or learning on the move, the DABS are free to borrow for a trial period until the end of July! Headphones may be purchased separately for a small charge. For more information please contact New Malden library on 020 8547 6490 or Alison Townsend on 020 8547 6494. Or view the player on our suppliers website from the link below.

Online Reference Room News

The BFI Screen Online Archive is now accessible from within all library branches. This archive is not accessible from home.
NewsUK now includes online access to a wide range of magazines. All newspapers and magazines are regularly updated. See the content list in NewsUK for details of titles.

Library User Forums

will be held at all library branches over the coming weeks. Please come along and have your say at informal meetings with library staff. Latest dates are below:

Surbiton Library on Monday 28 April at 5pm
Kingston Library on Thursday 15 May at 6.30pm
New Malden Library on Saturday 17 May at 10am
Tolworth Library on Satuday 17 May at 2.30pm
Hook and Chessington Library on Tuesday 20 May at 6.30pm
Old Malden Library on Friday 23 May at 5.30pm
Tudor Drive Library Saturday 14 June at 2pm

Changes to library opening hours

From 1 April 2008 the following changes come into effect in Kingston Libraries:

• Kingston Library will no longer open on Sundays
• Old Malden Library will close for one hour from 12.30 to 1.30 on Saturdays
• New Malden Library will open at 9.30 on Saturdays
• Surbiton Library will close at 7pm on Fridays
• Tolworth Library will close at 5.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

Cultural Strategy

The Best Place to Live: A Cultural Strategy for Kingston 2008-2012 was approved by the Council Executive on 11 March 2008. See related documents below.

Libraries for Learning

Through Kingston Libraries you can access a wide range of learning opportunities. Ask at any branch library for advice and guidance to help you find the course or way of learning that is right for you.
Providing British Computer Society accredited IT courses since 1999, Kingston Libraries have developed a strong commitment to high quality ICT training. If you want to learn how to use the internet, e-mail friends and family around the world, apply for jobs online, improve your CV or get to grips with Office IT skills why not attend a course at one of Kingston Libraries learning centres?

For details of forthcoming courses see our online calendar or contact one of Kingston Libraries Training Officers on: 020 8547 6489 /6470 /6485.

ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)

This internationally recognized qualification is now available in Surbiton Library. Using an online study course, which is accessible from a library or home PC you can train towards the tests which can be taken in the library at the end of each module. If sessions are booked on Monday or Thursday 10am to 12am or 2pm to 4pm we can offer help from a member of staff.

Recycle your books, DVDs, CDs and pre-recorded videos at one of our book banks and support the British Heart Foundation

Surbiton and Old Malden branches have book banks outside their buildings where you can deposit your unwanted books, DVDs, CDs or videos in whatever condition. The British Heart Foundation collect from the banks once a week and will transform your donation into much needed funds for their charity.

USB Flash Drives for Sale

Now available to buy in Kingston Libraries - USB Flash Drives (three sizes:128mb  512mb or 1gb)

Looking for information or to learn something new?

Try our online reference room or virtual training suite - courses and a wide range of reference books that you can access from your home or the library.

Homework Clubs

Stuck on Homework? Come along to one of our homework clubs - they are completely free!