Barnstaple Library is a busy and vibrant space, open six days a week. The Library boasts a large selection of books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs and there is a reserve stack of approximately 28,000 items which are available on request.
On the First Floor of the library there are 16 computers which are free to use for up to 2 hours a day with printing and copying facilities. Barnstaple Library also houses a large collection of Local and Family History records for the area working with South West Heritage Trust and the North Devon Athenaeum staff.
There is a bright and busy children's area with regular events and activities such as weekly Bounce and Rhyme sessions, toddler time, craft and children's book group. For adults, the library offers regular groups including, knitting, colouring, scrabble, singing and walking groups and there are regular author events throughout the year.
On a Friday morning during term time, students from Pathfield School run a pop up café in the library, serving a selection of drinks and some delicious cakes.
Barnstaple Library has a range of high-quality meeting rooms and spaces available for hire. If you're looking for a venue or meeting room at reasonable prices, click here to find out more.
Services
- FabLab Devon maker space
- Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre
- Meeting rooms for hire
- Exhibition and display space
- Children’s events
- Book groups and events
- Free computers and WiFi
- Printing, copying and scanning facilities
- Self-service machines
- Home library service
- Local Studies Centre
Barnstaple Library Events Scrabble Saturday 2
Date: 28 March 2020
Time: 13:00 - 16:00
Description: A Scrabble Club for players of all levels. Friendly group, everyone welcome
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Bounce and Rhyme Online
Date: 01 December 2020
Time: 10:30 - 11:00
Description: We've pooled the expertise of our teams from Devon and Torbay Libraries to bring you a varied programme of Bounce & Rhyme sessions from across the county. Join in the action with songs and rhymes and enjoy meeting staff from different libraries. https://www.facebook.com/pg/BarnstapleLibrary
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Raspberry Pi Jam Group
Date: 01 December 2020
Time: 13:30 - 14:00
Description: Are you missing our regular Raspberry Pi Jams? Join our Facebook group and share some of your ideas and projects. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3aF5dFO copy and paste the link.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
An Evening with Dolly Parton-British Library-Living Knowledge Network
Date: 02 December 2020
Time: 19:30 - 20:15
Description: Yes really Dolly Parton! This event is a part of the Living Knowledge Network with the British Library. Multiple Grammy award-winning entertainment icon Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor, author, businesswoman, the queen of country and a Glastonbury show-stopper. She was born in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children. Her father was a sharecropper who couldn’t read or write, but Dolly credits him as the inspiration for her Imagination Library, a book gifting programme devoted to giving children a love of reading, with over 100 million books distributed so far. Dolly’s prodigious musical output includes such classics as 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colours, I will Always Love You and Jolene. She also loves libraries, a lot. Sara Cox celebrates 25 years of broadcasting by chatting to her all time hero Dolly Parton! Over her career Sara has hosted various shows on BBC Radio 1 and now has her dream job hosting Radio 2’s teatime show. She is also the host of the book discussion show Between The Covers as well as Back in Time and Love in the Countryside for BBC2. She had a Sunday Times bestseller with her memoir about growing up on the family farm Till the Cows Come Home and is currently working on her debut novel.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Virtual Wanderings Group Barnstaple Library Facebook
Date: 02 December 2020
Time: 8:00 - 22:00
Description: Virtual Wanderings group is for us all to stay connected, stay safe and stay active. Please share images of the beautiful world we live in as it comes alive during Spring whilst we are limited in our daily activity. All activity and pictures posted in this group are subject to government guidelines regarding social distancing and outdoor activity allowances. Please refer to the latest advice via: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Find the group on our Facebook page by copying and pasting the link: https://bit.ly/34TV0nE
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Writing Group: Ideas Gang
Date: 02 January 2021
Time: 13:30 - 15:30
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Each Month the workshop is led by a different member of the group, giving a variety of writing experiences. Different forms and genres are covered and plenty of time is given for writing practice on the day.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Board Game Cafe
Date: 05 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check back nearer the time. Bring a friend or make new ones at this informal, friendly, free, drop in session for board game enthusiasts. Bring your own favourite game or choose from our selection as you enjoy a hot drink. No need to book, just drop by! Library Foyer.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
In conversation: Polly Clark
Date: 05 January 2021
Time: 19:00 - 19:45
Description: Join us live on Facebook for our first author event of 2021 when our Karen will be in conversation with author Polly Clark. Set across two continents, Tiger is a sweeping story of survival and redeeming love that plunges the reader into one of the world’s last wildernesses with blistering authenticity. Polly Clark is a novelist and poet. She was born in Toronto and lives in Helensburgh on Scotland’s west coast. Her latest novel is TIGER, the story of a dynasty of wild Siberian tigers, and the people who survive in the Russian taiga alongside them. Published in May 2019 this novel was hailed by The Guardian as a ‘passionate, remarkable and uplifting novel’ – and more specifically – ‘A startling, gore-splattered, nerve-racking exploration of how human and animal territories – both physical and psychic – collide’ Alan Massie in the Scotsman said: ‘Clark’s tigress is magnificent and terrifying… and her evocation of the of the terrifying wastes of the taiga and the grim horror of a Siberian winter represents a real and memorable achievement.’
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Audio Book Group
Date: 07 January 2021
Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. For anyone who likes to listen to audio books. An informal group to chat about the books you've enjoyed.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Scrabble Saturday 1
Date: 09 January 2021
Time: 13:00 - 16:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. A Scrabble Club for players of all levels. Friendly group everyone welcome.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Knit and Mix
Date: 10 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Come and join our social knitting group. Beginners or more experienced knitters welcome. Tea and coffee for a small donation.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Sing-Along-A-Library
Date: 12 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. For anyone who wants to sing for fun, we're not a choir so don't worry about being a good singer, just come along for a good sing song and a cuppa.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Bounce & Rhyme Wednesday
Date: 13 January 2021
Time: 10:30 - 11:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check back nearer the time. Come along, have fun, join in with some old favourite rhymes and learn some new ones.
Audience: Under 5
Cost: Free
Theme:
Colouring and Coffee
Date: 13 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check back nearer the time. Colouring for grown-ups. A friendly group and a nice way to relax for a couple of hours. Tea and coffee for a small donation. All materials supplied.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Computer Assistance
Date: 13 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check back nearer the time. Free assistance with technology for those needing extra help. One to One sessions. To book please call 01271 318780 or come in to the library.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Wednesday Wanderers
Date: 13 January 2021
Time: 14:00 - 15:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check back nearer the time. Are you aged 55 and over? Want to enjoy the outdoors more? Want to be a bit more active? Join us for a friendly walk exploring the walking routes around Barnstaple and over the 12 weeks maybe make some new friends too. Please share with friends and family! Programme funded by Connecting Actively to Nature with Active Devon. Suggested donation of £2 per session to help cover costs. To find out more and book your place via barnstaple.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk or on 01271 318780 or in person at the library.
Audience: Adult
Cost: Free
Theme:
Toddler Time
Date: 14 January 2021
Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Stories, songs and crafts for children aged 2 and over.
Audience: Under 5
Cost: Free
Theme:
Bounce & Rhyme
Date: 15 January 2021
Time: 10:30 - 11:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Come along, have fun, join in with some old favourite rhymes and learn some new ones.
Audience: Under 5
Cost: Free
Theme:
BFGs Coffee Morning
Date: 16 January 2021
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Barnstaple Friends Group are holding a coffee morning to raise funds for future events at the library. Coffee tea and soft drinks available, along with cakes and biscuits. Take a little time out from Saturday’s hectic routine.
Audience: All
Cost: Free
Theme:
Children’s Drop in Crafts Saturday
Date: 16 January 2021
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Description: Note this is a provisional date, please check nearer the time. Come and have fun with our monthly craft session. A different set of craft activities every month.
Audience: Child
Cost: Free, donations welcome
Theme:
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Library open for Choose and Collect
Please email or phone to choose and collect from the library at a pre-arranged time.
Find out more
Opening hours:
| Mon | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Tue | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Wed | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Thu | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Fri | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Sat | 09:00 - 17:00 |
For Barnstaple Local Studies opening hours click here
Contact us:
Jude Jeal
Email: Barnstaple Library
Tel: 01271 318780
Find us:
Barnstaple Library
Tuly Street
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1EL
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Email us: info@librariesunlimited.org.uk
Call us: 0345 155 1001
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Libraries Unlimited South West, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Registered company number: 9822597.
Registered charity number: 1170092.
Registered office: Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3PQ