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Libraries

Ipswich County Library

Opening times

Monday 0900 - 1800
Tuesday 0900 - 1900
Wednesday 0900 - 1800
Thursday 0900 - 1800
Friday 0900 - 1900
Saturday 0830 - 1700
Sunday 1000 - 1600

Out-of-hours book return available

Contact

Manager: Charmain Osborne

Northgate Street, Ipswich
IP1 3DE

Find us on Google Maps

01473 927260

help@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Branch facilities

  • Customer toilet
  • Refreshments: The Nook Café (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9AM-5PM, Tuesday and Friday 9AM-2:30PM, Saturday 9AM-4PM)
  • Payments: cash, cheques and cards accepted
  • Accessibility information on accessable.co.uk
  • Display space: Double sided display case available for hire - please book 2 weeks in advance
  • Which? Available online and in print
  • Free menstrual products available

Room and venue hire

The Hub

Max 60 people

Modern, spacious meeting and presentation spaces in the heart of Ipswich.

Find out about The Hub.

Wolsey room in The Hub
Break out area
Chaucer room in The Hub

Ceremonies in the Northgate Room

Hire the beautiful Northgate Room on the first floor of Ipswich County Library for weddings, naming ceremonies, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies or civil partnerships.

Find out about hiring the Northgate Room.

The Northgate Room
The Northgate room decorated for a wedding ceremony.
Wedding ceremony area
A wedding in the Northgate Room

Lecture Hall

Max 75 people
  • Capacity: 40 people for meetings, 75 people in rows
  • Refreshment facilities and onsite cafe
  • Nearby public carpark
  • Flip chart and projector available on request
  • Availability: All day subject to other bookings

Cost: £18 per hour for community/charity/private bookings, £24 per hour for commercial/statutory bookings

Space within library

Max 150 people
  • Capacity: Various (depending on part of library and format) but potentially up to 150 people in rows
  • Availability: Outside library opening hours only, subject to other bookings

Cost: Negotiable with library manager depending on space required and purpose of use

Other information

  • Bookings are for a minimum of 2 hours
  • 12.5% discount for bookings of 8 sessions or more - upfront payment applies
  • Bookings outside of library opening hours may attract an additional charge to cover staff costs
  • No parking available but plenty of public car parking available nearby

Events and activities at Ipswich County Library

Upcoming special events

All special events

Sustainable Mending Workshop

Fri 22 Mar 2024 , 11:30 – 14:30 Ipswich County Library Free entry

Join artist Clare Sams for a sustainable mending workshop and learn a variety of mending techniques for your pre-loved fabric items.

Find out more

The Fabulous Cash & Carter Show

Sat 23 Mar 2024 , 19:30 Ipswich County Library From £11.00

Join local music legends the Fabulous Cash & Carter for an evening of live music at Ipswich Library and enjoy an authentic and nostalgic musical journey with songs from the great Johnny Cash and June Carter.

Find out more

BooksFizz Reading Group

Mon 8 Apr 2024 , 14:00 – 15:00 Ipswich County Library Free entry

Join our adult reading group to talk about our book of the month and meet other book-lovers.

Find out more

Ipswich 100 author event with Mike Gayle

Tue 30 Apr 2024 , 19:30 – 20:30 Ipswich County Library £5.00

Join us for an author event with Mike Gayle at Ipswich County Library as part of Ipswich 100, a celebration of Ipswich Library's centenary

Find out more

BooksFizz Reading Group

Mon 20 May 2024 , 14:00 – 15:00 Ipswich County Library Free entry

Join our adult reading group to talk about our book of the month and meet other book-lovers.

Find out more

Wellbeing Suffolk

Wellbeing Friends with Wellbeing Suffolk

Tue 11 Jun 2024 , 10:00 – 11:00 Ipswich County Library Free entry Booking required

Join us at Ipswich Library for our Wellbeing Friends session and learn about available health and wellbeing support and how to support others, in collaboration with Wellbeing Suffolk.

Find out more

DiscoveReads author event with lecturer and psychoanalyst Salley Vickers

Tue 18 Jun 2024 , 19:30 – 20:30 Ipswich County Library £5.00

Join us for an author talk with lecturer, psychoanalyst and novelist Salley Vickers at Ipswich County library as part of our DiscoveReads programme and Ipswich 100.

Find out more

BooksFizz Reading Group

Wed 19 Jun 2024 , 14:00 – 15:00 Ipswich County Library Free entry

Join our adult reading group to talk about our book of the month and meet other book-lovers.

Find out more

Kate Thompson

Ipswich 100 author event with Kate Thompson

Tue 27 Aug 2024 , 19:30 – 20:30 Ipswich County Library £5.00

Join us for an author event with Kate Thompson at Ipswich County Library as part of Ipswich 100, a celebration of Ipswich Library's centenary.

Find out more

Regular events and activities

All events

Inside the Lines

Enjoy a fun, relaxing adult colouring session with friendly chat and laughter.

Tue 19 Mar 2024 , 10:15 – 11:45 ( Every Tuesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Sporting Memories

Relive your favourite sporting memories and make new friends with quizzes, games and gentle activities in-between!

Tue 19 Mar 2024 , 14:15 – 15:45 ( Every Tuesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Chat & Chill - conversation group

Share your experiences in this multi-cultural meet-up and practise your English in a comfortable and friendly environment.

Wed 20 Mar 2024 , 10:00 – 11:30 ( Every Wednesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Tot Rock - active songs and rhymes for preschool children

Join us for a fun session of active songs and rhymes for toddlers.

Wed 20 Mar 2024 , 10:15 – 10:45 ( Every Wednesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Open Space - wellbeing drop-in (Ipswich)

Open Space drop-ins are informal meet-ups for anybody interested in their mental health and wellbeing, as well as their families and carers.

Wed 20 Mar 2024 , 13:00 – 15:00 ( Every Wednesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Baby Bounce - gentle songs and nursery rhymes

Enjoy soft and gentle songs and rhymes with your baby.

Wed 20 Mar 2024 , 14:15 – 14:45 ( Every Wednesday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Barclays drop-in advice session

Barclays Bank will be offering a weekly advice session.

Thu 21 Mar 2024 , 10:00 – 16:00 ( Every Thursday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

Play Rhyme & Storytime

Fun for the little ones with a story, simple craft, toys and song. Suitable for toddlers 18+ months.

Thu 21 Mar 2024 , 10:30 – 11:15 ( Every Thursday) Ipswich County Library Free entry

RummiKlub - board games for older people

Join us every Thursday for RummiKlub, our social board games session for older people.

Thu 21 Mar 2024 , 14:15 – 15:45 ( Every Thursday) Ipswich County Library £1 for refreshments

Conversation Café

Come along to our drop-in session to practice and improve your speaking and listening English skills.

Fri 22 Mar 2024 , 10:00 – 12:00 ( Every Friday) Ipswich County Library Free entry