Portobello Library

We are open:
Monday to Thursday: 10.00am - 8.00pm, Friday: 10.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday 1.00pm - 5.00pm

Books, films, music, information, computers.... find out more about what's available from Edinburgh City Libraries

View images of Portobello from Capital Collections, an online library of photographs, drawings, watercolours and engravings from the collections of Edinburgh City Libraries

Portobello Library refurbishment

The refurbishment plan for Portobello Library incorporated a wide range of suggestions made by customers of all ages, during consultation exercises and from the Library's suggestion box. Every effort has been made to incorporate the history and the strong community spirit of the area in the new design and furnishings.

The major refurbishment was funded by the capital investment programme allocated to Libraries within the Services for Communities Department in 2008-2011. The capital invested for the refurbishment amounts to £98, 000, with an additional £20, 000 spent on new book stock. The refurbishment began on 12 October and the library re-opened to the public on 21 December. Cllr Deirdre Brock hosted the official opening on Friday 15th January. Photos from the official opening.

The staff team have given very positive feedback about the new design and all worked very hard (often beyond the call of duty) to retain many services whilst the Library was closed and to make the refurbishment a success. A mobile library was on site for the entire closure period.

Portobello is our first library to offer Cuddle Book Corner for babies to 5 year olds. This is a specialist designed area to attract our youngest customers and their parents and carers, which provides an inspiring, bright space and furniture in which to learn more about books and reading.

There is also provision for teenagers through the Libraries for Youth - L4U - a dedicated space for teens with selected books, games and a gaming area.

The new library also houses a display area with comfortable seating, where the work of local artists, and local information, may be displayed.

In addition, over 2000 new books have been acquired across all age groupings and categories. Books can also be reserved on-line and this should help ensure that customers can access the books they wish to read.

Self-service has been introduced to modernise libraries and importantly to free up staff to enable them to deliver a more pro-active customer service and increase opportunities to develop new services within the Library. As part of self-service, to reduce theft all books are tagged and customers exit the building via the security gate. This will sound an alarm if the book is not scanned out properly.

Finally, the library now has a cafe space with relaxation and quiet reading areas, with a pleasant outlook onto Portobello bowling green.

Events

Poetry at Porty - a series of events to mark poetry month
Karen Campbell - the author of 'After the fire' will be coming to the library as part of the Crime in the city series of author events at libraries throughout Edinburgh. This event is free but contact the library to reserve your place. Tuesday 2 March, 6.30 - 8pm
free computer classes on Fridays - 11.00 - 12.30 for complete beginners, we show you how to log on, use a mouse and keyboard, get on the internet, use web sites and word processing. This is a set of 4 classes. Please book in advance by telephoning the library on 0131 529 5558.
book group: first Tuesday every month 6.30pm - 7.45pm. A nice informal group which always welcomes new members, we pick books for 2 - 3 months ahead and talk about the best bits - with refreshments.
Storytimes: Thursday afternoons, 3.15pm - 3.30pm - just come in after school
Rhymetimes: every Wednesday, 10.15am OR 11.15am in the community room - this is very popular, please come early to one or other of the two sessions.
Councillors's surgeries: Stephen Hawkins (6.00 on Wednesdays), Michael Bridgman (6.30 on Mondays once a month) and Maureen Child (7.00 on Mondays)
Toybox: a toy library which takes place every week in term time only from 10.00am - 11.30 am.

Facilities

disabled access and toilets
induction loop
community room for hire: lift access
display space available in window and in library
baby changing facilities
'easy i.d,' photobooth
coffee machine for customers' use

Bus routes: Lothian buses 12, 15/15a, 26, 32/32a, 42, 49.

Contacts

Name: Portobello Library

Address: 14 Rosefield Avenue, Edinburgh, EH15 1AU

Tel: 0131 529 5558

Fax: 0131 669 2344

E-mail: portobello.library