Reference & Information Services is based in Bury Central Library and has a wide range of information materials which you can use to look up facts and figures about all sorts of subjects. Nearly all the resources are on open access but some local history resources are restricted access items. A member of staff will be happy to access these items for you to use in the library. You don't need to join the Library to use our resources but if you wish to book a PC, in advance, we do require you to be a library member.
Listed below are some of the types of information materials which we offer:
General reference information - dictionaries, encyclopaedias, phone directories, street maps, atlases, CD ROMS.
Newspapers & Magazines - national and local newspapers and a selection of popular magazines in English and Urdu, plus access to the
NewsUK newspaper and magazine database, via the Internet.
Local Information - contacts details for local clubs and societies, doctors/ dentists, What's On information, Electoral Rolls, details of local organisations and services, local schools and college prospectuses and much more.
Local Council information - contacts details for local councillors, information about council services and departments , council minutes, council reports and statistics.
Business information - business directories and magazines, company information in a range of formats, reference books on business topics, mailing lists, market research information. For further information contact the Business Information Librarian – 0161 253 5871.
European information - directories, books, CD ROMs, leaflets to take away, magazines, statistics.
Environment Information Point - selection of reference books and magazines, leaflets and a notice board dedicated to environmental issues.
Health Information Point - medical dictionaries and encyclopaedias, medical textbooks on specific illnesses and diseases, health magazines, leaflets on aspects of health.
Legal information - solicitors contacts details, access to the Justis database of Public Acts and Statutes, Citizen's Advice Bureau information pack, Community Legal Service directory , leaflets on a range of legal issues to take away.
Statistics - statistical publications including Social Trends, Regional Trends, Annual Abstract of Statistics, local stats and information from the current local census.
Local history & Genealogy - books, pamphlets, maps, census records, church records, local newspaper cuttings. Picture Memories database of local photographs. Bury, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom Libraries each cover their own areas. The
Local and Family History page shows more detail of the information available. Family History Help Surgeries are held in RIS and Ramsbottom Library. For further assistance we provide a
list of local history researchers.
Job hunting and careers information - various job hunting newspapers and magazines, books on CV writing, interview techniques, CD ROMs, University and College prospectuses for the UK. Weekly job hunting surgeries run by NextStep are held in Bury Library.
Computer Access - is available in RIS and all Bury Metro Libraries. In RIS we offer Microsoft Office, fast Internet, and CD-ROM network access on all our PCs. Sessions are free and can be booked in advance by library card holders. Introductory Internet courses are held every Saturday 11am -12 noon. For more information or to book a session call 0161 253 7089.
Bury Reference & Information Services
Tel: 0161 253 5871
Tel: 0161 253 7089 (computer bookings)
Fax: 0161 253 5857
e-mail:
information@bury.gov.uk