Enquire

The People's Network Online Information Service

Enquire is a 24/7 information service, staffed by English public librarians and partners from North America, available to anybody. Using a real-time, chatroom format you can communicate instantly with an information professional who can direct you to the information you need. Visit the Enquire website to find out more about it.

For information relating specifically to Swindon and the surrounding area you will receive a fuller and more informed response if you use the Ask Here email service below.

Ask Here

Can’t find the answer to that tricky question? Your homework proving difficult? Swindon Libraries has an e-mail service called Ask Here. We are happy to answer your enquiries – from the simple to the complex, from technical to local studies. So why not e-mail us any time day or night and we will respond within three working days (usually much quicker).

Business Information

Swindon's specialist business information service, M4BR, is now located at the University of Bath in Swindon's Oakfield campus, where information professionals will help you to find what you need in a variety of different areas.

For more information about the resources and services available at M4BR visit this site.

Electronic Resources

For details of the outstanding electronic resources now available in every Swindon library, and from home, visit our 24 Hour Library section

Community Information

The Community Information database contains details of clubs, groups, charities, council officials and functions across the borough and is updated regularly. Countywide organisations are also included. Library staff will answer your enquiries or you can access the information yourself via this page, or on the public terminals in the libraries.

Reference Collections

All Swindon libraries contain reference collections according to their size and the area covered, but the main collection is housed in the Central Library, Paramount Building, Princes Street, Swindon, SN1 2SD.

The Central Library has a large collection of up-to-date information to answer enquiries on:

• Art
• Current Affairs
• Education and Training
• European Affairs - as a European Public Information Centre (EPIC), the Central Library holds a range of basic resources about the European Union.
• Law
• Social Sciences
• Science and Technology

and lots more, including:

• Atlases
• Dictionaries
• Directories
• Encyclopaedias
• Health information
• Hotel guides.
• Ofsted reports for local schools
• Ordnance Survey maps
• Periodicals
• Postcode directories
• Street maps
• Telephone directories
• Yearbooks
• Yellow Pages

In addition, you will find free leaflets on places to go, local events and information on local and national groups. Photocopying facilities are available.

And if we can't give you an answer we'll put you in touch with someone who can!

Newspapers and Magazines

Click Here (21kb downloadable PDF file) for a list of titles held in Swindon's Libraries.

Did You Know?

Among the hidden treasures in the Central Library are long runs of:

The Illustrated London News from 1842 to 1898 and from 1944 to 1991.
A wonderful social history of Britain.

Punch from 1941 to 1992: English humour and satire.

Hansard - reports of the House of Commons from 1959 to 1996, and the House of Lords from 1975 to1988

Please consult staff if you would like access to any of the above resources.