Community Library Services

Would you like to improve your reading, writing, number or spelling skills?

Libraries can help with your English or Maths at home and work, for study, courses, job skills or help with your child's education. Using the library is easy...and free. If you haven't got a library card, visit Joining the Library for more details.

Help for Tutors and Students

We also provide free "Discovery" Tours of the Central Library and welcome the chance to visit your classes and talk about the range of services on offer.

Libraries offer a tutor's card to help with classes and courses. The Central Library also stocks "Skills for Life" publishers catalogues, useful website details and magazines.

The Get On Collection

This is a range of easy reading and factual books, book/cassette and book/CD packs at Southend Library. All titles have a large blue sticker and can be borrowed free of charge by anyone.

The Quick Reads Collection

Too little time for reading? Quick Reads are never too long, so however busy you are there's always time to try one.

Quick Reads titles include women's fiction, crime, thrillers, adventure and fantasy books. From authors such as Ruth Rendell, Joanne Trollope, Maeve Binchy and Tom Holt.

RaW

"Read and Write" with the BBC- RaW is the biggest ever campaign to improve the basic skills of the nation and is aimed at people between the ages of 25-54. Southend Central Library is a RaW centre and for more details visit www.bbc.co.uk/raw.

Language and Citizenship testing

From April 2007 applicants for indefinite leave to remain in the UK (settlement) will need to provide evidence of knowledge of language and life in the UK.

Life in the UK Test

This is a computer-based test based on a handbook "Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship".

For details about the test visit the Life in the UK Test website.

ESOL with Citizenship Courses

These courses are meant to help people gain knowledge of the UK at the same time as you improve English language skills.

For more information about courses in this area contact the Learndirect helpline on 0800 100 900 or visit the Learndirect website.

For further information please contact us using our Related Services.

Southend Adult Community College (SACC) offers Skills For Life courses and many are free.

Please call 01702 445710 for more information or E-mail info@southend-adult.ac.uk to check availability and suitability.