Books and reading

Browse our library catalogue, or renew your items at our online catalogue page.

Check out the book suggestions on our Pinterest page.

If you’re looking for a good book to read, we can help!

• WhichBook - A new way of choosing what to read
• Goodreads
• Nb - a reference copy of the associated magazine NewBooks is available in all our branches
• Fantastic Fiction
• Richard & Judy Book Club
• Radio 2 Book Club

All our branches have a copy of the Who Else Writes Like…? readers’ guide to fiction authors. This book suggests alternatives to your favourite writers, helping you to find your next great read.

• Costa Book Awards
• The Crime Writers’ Association Daggers
• The Desmond Elliott Prize
• The Booker Prize
• The Booker International Prize
• British Book Awards
• Women’s Prize for Fiction
• Jhalak Prize
• Polari Prize

Reading Well Mood-boosting Books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction. The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups and are available to borrow from our libraries.

Visit the Reading Well website for more information.

Books in other languages are available at North Shields Customer First Centre. We also have eBooks available via BorrowBox, our digital library.

Love to Read?  With our Love2Read library card you can borrow up to 20 books at a time and make unlimited free reservations, all for a £5 annual fee. Speak to a member of staff for details.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? We welcome suggestions for books to add to our stock.

Contact any of our branches.

Reading groups are a great way to meet new people and share a love of reading. View our reading groups pages here.

Great reads for discovering diverse voices and special collections - check out our book lists below.