Research and enquiry services in libraries
If you want to do your own research in a library, our staff are happy to help find answers to your questions. You don’t need to be a library member to use these services.
Where do I start?
You can use the national library enquiry service for general questions, or ask us for local information.
Library staff will usually be able to tell you whether the information you need is available. You might need to use our large reference libraries to investigate further.
Special research services
Our reserve store is not open to the public, so you will need to join the library to ask for our military history, rare and out-of-print books and score sets to be sent to your local library.
You can try to get specialist books, articles and theses from libraries outside East Sussex by using our special reservation service.
Information about Brighton & Hove
We have general resources on Brighton & Hove, and detailed information is available at East Sussex Record Office or Brighton & Hove libraries.
Help us to help you
Whatever you need to know, it will always help if you can tell us:
- exactly what you want – be as precise as you can, eg the name of a particular street you are interested in, rather than ‘I want to know about the history of Hastings’
- who you are – are you a child or an adult?
- what you want it for – is it for a school project, university thesis, hobby or something else?
- when you will need the information
- what information you already have
- where you live – contact details such as your email and postal address will let us send you relevant information or refer your question to another library or organisation.
How much does it cost?
Basic enquiries are free of charge. Detailed research that we do for you is charged on an hourly basis, and there is a small charge for printing and photocopying.
