 Join us this March for Wellbeing Month in our libraries.
There are many ways that libraries can support your wellbeing including regular activities, lots of resources… and research has shown that reading is good for you.
See our what's on pages for details on the special drop-in information stands in some of our libraries this month.
For our younger customers we have some special wellbeing-themed storytimes in March. Have a look to see if your local library is holding one of these.
 This month we are highlighting the benefits of reading in all its forms.
Whether it is printed or electronic; books, newspapers, magazines, comics, graphic novels or listening to audiobooks, it all has benefits.
According to The Reading Agency’s 2024 survey of the nation’s reading habits:
- 44% of people said reading improves their mental health and wellbeing
- 41% said it gives them a better night’s sleep
Plus, why not join us for our reading wellbeing events this month:
- On Wednesday 5 March at 1.00pm local author Laurence Smith will be talking about his experiences trekking mountain ranges for his disabled son. Tickets are free but pre-booking is required, available from Horsham Library.
- On Monday 10 March at 7.00pm writer and podcaster Grace Timothy will talk about her book Is It My ADHD?. Tickets are £3 and available from Worthing Library.
 From today (3 March) visit any of our libraries and try out the first of our amazing new 3D poster and virtual sticker hunts. There will be five in total released throughout this year. The first theme landing in libraries is Space.
This is part of our Library of Possibilities and Wonder virtual reality experience coming to all our libraries throughout our centenary year. Spaces to try the virtual reality headsets are filling up at Littlehampton, Rustington, Angmering, East Preston and Ferring libraries for this month. Spaces are now available to book for April at Crawley and Broadfield libraries.
The unique project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery money awarded by Arts Council England.
 Out of this World spaced-themed activities will be landing in libraries during the Easter holidays, to tie in with our Library of Possibilities and Wonder virtual sticker hunt.
Join us for a galactic adventure, with some stellar space stories and a cosmic craft!
Places are limited and pre-booking is required for all school holiday events. Please check the individual listings for more details.
Don't forget regular library activities continue to run throughout the school holidays too, so you won't miss out on the usual Storytimes, Construction Clubs and more.
 Our library service staff took part in a special photo moment to mark our 100th birthday last month.
Library staff from across the county posed for a ‘This is us at 100’ series of special photos to create a photographic record of everyone involved in the service on, or as close as possible to, Thursday 13 February, our milestone anniversary.
You can check out the photos on our social media channels.
- Don’t miss out! There’s still time to book your free ticket for our 100 Years of Libraries in West Sussex talk. The talk will be held at West Sussex Record Office in Chichester (and online) on Tuesday 25 March 2025 at 7.00pm. Booking is essential.
 As part of our centenary celebrations, throughout this year we will be revealing 100 Library Champions who have helped support and shape our library service.
Our champions range from those who work hard behind the scenes to keep the service running, library staff past and present, volunteers and of course our customers; whilst others represent some of our partners in the community and the world of arts and culture.
Each week we will be announcing more of our champions on our social media pages and updating our Library Champions webpage. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X to keep up to date.
- Join us at Haywards Heath Library on Wednesday 12 March at 2.00pm for our Quiz Afternoon. Come along to meet new people – no need to form your own team. Please book a space at Haywards Heath Library or call us on 01444 255444 as spaces are limited.
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Broadfield Library will be temporarily closed for lighting work from 2.00pm on Saturday 15 March and will re-open on Saturday 22 March at 10.00am. Knit and Natter on Thursday 20 March will be held in the Longley Room at Crawley Library 11.30am - 1.00pm. For information see our website.
- Join us at Horsham Library on Tuesday 18 March at 7.00pm for an evening with Carole Hailey author of the BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, The Silence Project, who will be talking about her new book Scenes From a Tragedy. Tickets are £5.00, available from Horsham Library or by calling 01403 224353.
- Bring your mobile phone or tablet to an eLibrary drop in at Findon Valley Library on Thursday 27 March between 10.00am and 12.00pm to find out more about how you can read eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers free with your library card.
- Throughout March, Crawley Library will be partnering with WORDfest Crawley, an annual community run festival celebrating literature, words and language. Events include a book based quiz night, a crime writers panel, writing workshops, a fantasy panel (for ages 14+), scrapbook making and doodling. More information on all activities and how to book are available at WORDfest Crawley.
- Join local historian Alan Green for a fascinating talk entitled 'Freeland's Fair Ground – The Curious History of Oaklands Park'. The talk will be held at West Sussex Record Office in Chichester (and online) on Tuesday 29 April at 7.00pm. Booking essential on West Sussex Record Office's website.
Our centenary spotlight this month is on Marian Frost, a pioneering early librarian.
To mark International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March, we wanted to shine a spotlight on Marian who was a librarian at Worthing Library and Museum in the early 1900s. She was instrumental in persuading international steel baron Andrew Carnegie to give the town of Worthing the equivalent of £500,000 to fund a new library.
Throughout her life Marian was a real innovator, and she dedicated her life to championing books and the power of libraries.
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