Opening Hours

We are pleased to confirm that the Lit & Phil is now open again to members.

After reopening on 12 April with many restrictions in place, we can now offer more facilities and services as part of our careful reopening plan.

From Tuesday 1 June, our opening hours will be:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Saturdays 10am - 1pm (June 12 & 26).
Dates for Saturday opening in July will be confirmed.

Face coverings (unless exempt) must still be worn in the building, social distancing rules and the one way system observed, and hand sanitisers used. However, we will no longer be quarantining books, CDs and magazines on the ground floor, and so members should come straight upstairs on arrival.

Members who wish to browse must still book a slot in advance via library@litandphil.org.uk or 0191 232 0192. Members may book slots of up to 2 hours per day up to 3 times per week.

From 1 June, members wishing to return items or collect items only (not browse) do not have to book in advance. If on a Wednesday, you intend to return or collect items only it should be before 5pm during this phase of reopening. Also from this date, the Reference/Silence Room will be available for members to book in advance for up to a day, up to 3 times per week (except Wednesday evenings.)

The self- service tea/coffee machine will be available. Members may now search the catalogue themselves as the OPAC will be available, and slots may be booked on a public computer. Our photocopying service will resume and we will now accept cash, although card payments are preferred.

Finally, to compensate for not yet being able to hold live events in the building, we have organised an online series of talks and readings via ZOOM. Please check our events page for details of what is coming up. Most events are free but if you are able to do so, please do donate what you can to help us continue our valuable educational work. Recordings are also available on our YouTube Channel.

Members may also still request our home delivery/collection service, run by volunteers, or that books are sent by post.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your commitment and loyalty to the Lit & Phil, and I hope that you will be encouraged to come back to the building very soon, if you have not already done so. Hopefully further announcements about the easing of restrictions can be made towards the end of June.