Sheffield Central Children's Library

Is it right for my child?

• Babies and toddlers: the activities page lists Babytime at Central Library every Friday, 11am to midday. Across the council’s libraries, Babytime is for babies and toddlers up to around 2 years old.
• Pre-schoolers: Storytime at Central Library is listed every Monday, 11am to midday. The council describes Storytime as a session for pre-schoolers.
• Signing families: Sing, Sign and Storytime runs fortnightly at Central Library. The page gives no dates, so contact the library for them.
• Readers aged 7 to 11: Chatterbooks, a reading group for this age, meets monthly on Saturdays, 11am to midday. The page asks you to contact Central Library for details.
• Games: the board games page says the Central Children’s Library has a games collection suitable for younger children, which can be played in the library.
• Book lovers: children can borrow up to 20 books free of charge, including audiobooks, and use the eLibrary. The council advises parental supervision for the eLibrary.
• Sensory notes: the council’s pages do not describe noise, lighting or quiet times in the children’s library.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Check the day. On 12 November 2026 the council listed Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm, with no Sunday hours.
• Check the council’s planned late openings list before you go. On 12 November 2026 it showed November dates only.
• Bring your library card. The council announced a new library system from the week beginning 2 November 2026, with basic in-library services only for a short period.
• For babies, aim for Babytime on a Friday morning. For pre-schoolers, aim for Storytime on a Monday morning.
• If you need the lift, use the door on Arundel Gate, on the opposite side of the road to Sheffield Hallam University.
• Phone the Central Children’s Library on 0114 273 4734 to check session dates and any changes before you travel.

Prices and tickets

The council says it is free to join the library if you live or work in Sheffield. A card lets you borrow books, use the eLibrary, attend events and use the information services. The council’s 2026 to 2027 fees and charges document lists no charge for visiting a library.

• Children’s loans: up to 20 books free of charge, including audiobooks. Music CDs carry a charge, listed at 50p for 3 weeks.
• Late returns: the council says Sheffield Libraries is fine free. Items kept more than 60 days beyond the due date are treated as lost, and a replacement fee is charged.
• Returned after all: the council says it will not charge you when you bring a lost item back.
• Under fives: the fees document says young children’s materials borrowed on the card of a child under 5 should not be charged if damaged or lost.
• Homework printing: for homework purposes only, children and young people can have 5 black and white and 1 colour People’s Network prints free each day.
• Sessions: the activities page does not give prices for Babytime, Storytime or Chatterbooks. The council says most of its special events are free to library members.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Lift: the council lists lift access through the door on Arundel Gate. It does not mention pushchairs specifically.
• Baby changing: the council lists an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities on the ground floor. Ask staff for directions if needed.
• Toilets: the libraries page names only the accessible toilet.
• Breastfeeding: the official pages do not mention a feeding space.

Food and drink

The council’s library pages do not mention a café in Central Library. They also do not say whether you can eat your own food inside. The Graves Gallery in the same building closed at the end of October 2026, so do not plan on anything there.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Central Library, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ.
• Driving: the council warns of a bus gate on Arundel Gate outside the Novotel. Follow the on-site directional signs to reach the library by the alternative route.
• Blue Badge: there are disabled parking spaces for Blue Badge holders outside the building. They are limited to 3 hours, with no return within 3 hours.
• Other parking and public transport: the council’s library pages name no car park and give no bus, tram or train details.

When to visit

• Weekday mornings: Storytime on Mondays and Babytime on Fridays, both 11am to midday, are listed at Central Library.
• Saturdays: the children’s library closes at 4pm. Chatterbooks meets on a Saturday once a month.
• Christmas and New Year: on 12 November 2026 the council’s libraries page listed no Christmas or New Year hours or closures. Phone 0114 273 4734 before visiting over the holidays.
• The building’s future: on 3 November 2026 the council said a report to its 11 November committee preferred a future move. Central Library would go to a transformed Millennium Gallery building.
• No final decision: on 21 September 2026 the council said no final decision had been made. Key library services would remain in the building while proposals are finalised.
• Heating: the committee report says the heating failed in April 2026, and temporary heating is being installed. The council has said changes to services will be shared in advance.

Additional needs and disability support

The council says the 1930s Grade II listed building’s access for people with limited mobility is not as good as it would like. It lists these measures. The pages do not mention a Changing Places toilet, relaxed sessions, sensory maps or quiet hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Central Children’s Library in Sheffield free?

The council says joining is free if you live or work in Sheffield, and children borrow up to 20 books free. Its fees document lists no charge for visiting a library.

When is Storytime at Sheffield Central Library?

The activities page lists Storytime every Monday, 11am to midday, and Babytime every Friday, 11am to midday. Sing, Sign and Storytime is fortnightly; contact the library for dates.

Is the Central Children’s Library open on Sundays?

On 12 November 2026 the council listed hours for Monday to Saturday only. Monday to Friday was 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

Can you take a pushchair to Sheffield Central Library?

The council does not mention pushchairs. It lists lift access through the door on Arundel Gate, and baby changing on the ground floor.

Is Sheffield Central Library moving?

A report to the council’s committee on 11 November 2026 preferred a future move to the Millennium Gallery building. The council says it would return to committee in 2027.

Where do you park for the Central Children’s Library?

There are Blue Badge spaces outside, limited to 3 hours with no return within 3 hours. The council’s library pages name no other car park.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Sheffield City Council pages for our libraries, library activities, joining the library, borrowing and fees, board games and the council’s Central Library news. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.