West Essex Library Service
Libraries are free for everyone, and while libraries across the county open year-round for residents, we recognise the need to respond to the rise in living costs by providing warm and inviting spaces, hot drinks, activities, and the opportunity to connect with others. ‘Warm Welcomes’ commits to supporting residents over the winter, particularly those affected by the cost-of-living crisis and rise in energy prices.
This additional support includes warm drinks (availability will vary in each library), warm spaces for groups, and extra clubs and activities including arts and crafts, homework clubs, cookery, mindfulness activities, advice sessions and skills and training. The offer will vary across libraries. Find out what is available in each library*.
In addition to library staff helping facilitate activities and being on hand to engage with library users, we're recruiting ‘Warm Welcomes’ volunteers across the county’s libraries, who will be on hand to offer company to those feeling isolated, give advice and guidance to those in need, and run activities, clubs and events for residents to enjoy.
Who can use this service?
Anyone in the locality
How are services delivered?
Please see specific libraries for opening times .
InformationEnquiry@essex.gov.uk
0345 603 7628
Saffron Walden Library, 2 King Street
Saffron Walden
CB10 1ES
Monday 9am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 7pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Dunmow Library, 47 White Hart Way
Great Dunmow
CM6 1FS
Monday 9am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Stansted Library, 72 Chapel Hill
Stansted Mountfitchet
CM24 8AQ
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9am to 1pm
Wednesday 2pm to 5:30pm
Thursday 2pm to 7pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Thaxted Library, 7 Town Street
Thaxted
CM6 2LD
Monday Closed
Tuesday 2pm to 5:30pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am to 1pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Harlow Library, Cross Street
Harlow
CM20 1HA
Monday 9am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Great Parndon Library, Parnall Road, Staple Tye
Harlow
CM18 7PP
Monday 9am to 7pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Mark Hall Library, The Stow
Harlow
CM20 3AP
Monday Closed
Tuesday 2pm to 7pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 9am to 1pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Old Harlow Library, 30 High Street
Old Harlow
CM17 0DW
Monday 9am to 1pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 2pm to 7pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Tye Green Library, Bush Fair
Harlow
CM18 6LU
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9am to 1pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 9am to 7pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Loughton Library, Traps Hill
Loughton
IG10 1HD
Monday 9am to 7pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Buckhurst Hill Library, 165 Queens Road
Buckhurst Hill
IG9 5AZ
Monday 9:30am to 5pm*
Tuesday 9am to 7pm
Wednesday 9:30am to 5pm*
Thursday 9am to 1pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am to 5pm
* self-service only
Chigwell Library, Hainault Road
Chigwell
IG7 6QX
Monday 9am to 1pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 2pm to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Chipping Ongar Library, The Pleasance, High Street
Chipping Ongar
CM5 9AB
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9am to 1pm
Wednesday 9am to 7pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Debden Library, Epping Forest College, Borders Lane
Loughton
IG10 3SA
Monday Closed
Tuesday 2pm to 5pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 2pm to 5pm
Friday 9am to 1pm
Saturday 9am to 1pm
Epping Library, St John's Road
Epping
CM16 5DN
Monday 9am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
Friday 9am to 5:30pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
North Weald Library, 138 High Road, North Weald
Epping
CM16 6BZ
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9am to 1pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 2pm to 5:30pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Waltham Abbey Library, 37 Sun Street
Waltham Abbey
EN9 1EL
Monday 9am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am to 1pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am to 7pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm