This page shows a list of websites and other useful resources which we would recommend. If you would like to find out which books your library offers, have a look at how to borrow and request items from the library.
Page contents
Useful links
- Surrey History Centre
- Reminiscence collection
- Surrey fiction book map
- Our LGBTQ+ library collections
- Books and libraries web links
- Reading groups
Language books and courses
Surrey Libraries provide a range of language books and multimedia courses.
To borrow one of these courses you need to be a member of your local library.
Course lengths vary depending on the level and style.
They are located in the standard stock of your local library, or can be reserved online using the online library catalogue.
Most language courses come with one or more audio tapes or CDs and an instruction booklet for practice. The exercises are usually a combination of written exercises, listening exercises and speaking skills.
Also, there are number of adult learning language courses in a classroom environment.
BBC Learning English resource
BBC Learning English is part of BBC World Service and is dedicated to providing free resources for learners of English at all levels covering grammar, vocabulary and listening practice. BBC Learning English is a website with videos and podcasts, with new
episodes each weekday. Materials are mainly for self-study, but can also be used in class. Almost all series have subtitles, a transcript and a worksheet or quiz.
Quick Reads
What are Quick Reads?
Quick Reads are a series of short books by bestselling authors and celebrities. With no more than 128 pages, they are designed to encourage adults who do not read often, or find reading difficult, to discover the joy of books.
The Quick Reads programme, run by The Reading Agency collaborated with over 30 publishers to produce a total of 135 titles written by some of the most popular authors in the UK including: Andy McNab, Jojo Moyes, Anne Cleeves, Ian Rankin and Benjamin Zephaniah.
See the Reading Agency website for more information about the Quick Reads programme.
Where can you find Quick Reads?
You can find Quick Reads titles in all Surrey libraries; you can borrow them by visiting a library and selecting from any on the shelf. You can reserve them in branch or on our online catalogue using the search term "Quick Reads".
Search the library catalogue for Quick Reads
Poetry
Search our online catalogue to explore our extensive range of poetry titles from around the world, including both classic and modern poets. Alternatively search for poetry eBooks and eAudiobooks available now via our digital platforms.
Supporting adult learners to read
Book resources that we recommend for adult learners that are learning to read.
Search the online library catalogue
You can search our online library catalogue for the subject 'readers' for a wide selection of titles designed to support emergent adult readers.
Search the library catalogue for Readers
Search for specific book series
Quick Reads
Quick Reads are a series of short books by bestselling authors and celebrities. With no more than 128 pages, they are designed to encourage adults who do not read often, or find reading difficult, to discover the joy of books.
Find out more about Quick Reads in Surrey libraries
Penguin Readers
The best of contemporary fiction, non-fiction and popular classics brought to life for English language learners. We stock Penguin Readers in many of our libraries from Starter Level to Level 7. The books can be found on the catalogue using a keyword search for 'Penguin Readers'.
Search the library catalogue for Penguin Readers books
For further information including the full range of books available at each level you can check out their website where books are listed by level. Visit the Penguin Readers website.
Books Beyond Words
Beyond Words seeks to enable people with intellectual disabilities and autism from all countries, cultures and languages to access our word-free picture stories and be empowered to live fuller lives. We publish wordless books in both print and digital formats, covering health conditions, relationships, safeguarding, sport, exercise and nutrition, community, crime and justice, and the workplace.
Most of our Books Beyond Words titles are held at Epsom library, Farnham library, Leatherhead library and Redhill library and can be found on the online library catalogue with the keywords 'Books Beyond Words'.
Search the library catalogue for Books Beyond Words
For further information including the full range of books available you can visit the Books Beyond Words website.
Books on the Hill (BOTH Press)
These are dyslexic friendly books for adults. This range of dyslexic friendly books for adults and children uses clear layouts, larger line spacing and wider margins to help readers follow the text more easily.
A range of these books are held at Epsom library, Farnham library and Woking library and can be found on the catalogue by carrying out a Series search for 'dyslexia friendly quick read'.
Search the library catalogue for Books on the Hill
For further information including the full range of books available you can visit the Books on the Hill website.
Gatehouse
Gatehouse produce reading books and resources for developing literacy in teenagers and adults.
For further information including the full range of books available you can visit the Gatehouse books website.
To search for these on the library catalogue, please choose a title from the Gatehouse books website and then use a Title search in the online catalogue.
Graphic novels
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a graphic novel.
You can find graphic novels in 24 of our libraries and you can reserve them at any of our libraries or from our online catalogue.
For even more try searching our eComics service on the Libby app.
What's in the graphic novels collections?
There are popular series from action adventure, dark fantasy and gothic noir to manga.
You'll find titles by well known authors like Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Art Spiegelman and Frank Miller. Not to mention Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Kosuke Fujishima, Masami Tsuda and Shuichi Shigeno.
Where you can find graphic novels?
Libraries with graphic novel collections:
- Ashford library
- Banstead library
- Camberley library
- Dittons library
- Dorking library
- Egham library
- Epsom library
- Ewell library
- Farnham library
- Godalming library
- Guildford library
- Horley library
- Leatherhead library
- Oxted library
- Redhill library
- Staines library
- Sunbury library
- Walton library
- Weybridge library
- Woking library
