Library & Information Service

NCB’s Library and Information Service has a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary collection of books, journals and grey literature on all aspects of children and young people's social care, health and education. It is the largest collection of resources about children and young people’s issues in the UK.

The collection contains over 30,000 publications, 450 British and international journal titles and a database of child care organisations. Most of the resources in the collection are published in the UK but we do collect some European and international material. We have a large statistical collection and aim to collect all government legislation relating to children. Our Journal Holdings List [PDF 349KB] provides information about the Library's current and past journal and newspaper holdings. The Library also produces a listing of NCB's current projects and specialist services [PDF 101KB].

Additional services

To complement our comprehensive resources, these extra services are also available:

  • Children's Play Information Service (CPIS)
  • PSHE & Citizenship Information Service (PSHECIS)
  • Early Childhood Unit (ECU)

Library Publications and Subscription Services


ChildData - NCB's established resource giving you online access to a catalogue of over 80,000 records of books, reports and journal articles; and press coverage of children's issues.

ChildData Abstracts - Monthly update of all new books, pamphlets, government publications and journal articles indexed on ChildData.

Children in the News - Daily and weekly abstracting service covering articles, features and law reports appearing in the national press.

Highlights - Widely acclaimed research summaries including key legislation - downloadable from the NCB members' website.

Childstats - a statistical publication free to NCB Members; available for non-members to subscribe to by email. Regularly updated to include the latest government statistical bulletins, figures published in Hansard, and findings from new research studies.

Student Reading Lists - We offer 25 titles in this popular series aimed at supporting student course work.

Literature Searches - We can also provide customised literature searching via our in-house database, ChildData.

Policy and Parliamentary Information Digest - a free weekly resource for NCB Members.

Appointments

The Library is open to visitors by appointment. Members can use it for free, non-members for a fee of £10 per day. We also run an Enquiry Line.

Try ChildData for free

This indispensible multidisciplinary online resource is updated daily with information on the care, education, health and welfare of children and young people.

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All the information you need in one place

NCB Members use the library for free and receive free or discounted access to all Library resources and services.

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Free resources

NCB offers a wide range of reports, practice and training materials designed to help practitioners working with children and young people.

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