The Reference Department on the 1st floor of Eastbourne Central Library has many resources available to the family and local historian. It also has fiche and film readers available to book.

Eastbourne Central Library
Reference Department
Grove Road
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4TL

Monday 09.30 - 18.30
Tuesday 09.30 - 18.30
Wednesday 09.30 - 18.30
Thursday 09.30 - 18.30
Friday 10.30 - 18.30
Saturday 09.30 - 17.00

Eastbourne Central Libraries resources include the following:
(Please note that to use the microfiche and film readers you may have to book)

* Fee based research service (first half-hour free)

* Censuses
- 1841,1851,1861, 1871, 1891, 1901 (for Sussex )
-1881 CD ROM for UK, and microfilm for Eastbourne
- East Sussex Census Index 1851

* County and Regional Directories
- Sussex 1792 - 1938 (microfiche)

* City and Town Directories (various years)
- Gowland's Eastbourne Directory: 1877 - 1925 (from 1898 includes Hailsham).
- Continued as: Kelly's Directory of Eastbourne & Neighbourhood: 1926 - 1973.
- Pike's Eastbourne Blue Book and Directory: 1885 -1908.

* Telephone Directories
- Current issues of whole of UK , Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

* Back files kept of local area: Brighton area from 1980.

* Electoral Registers

* Eastbourne Constituency 1945–

* International Genealogical Index (IGI) – records of baptisms, births, marriages and deaths compiled by the Church of Latter Day Saints . Microfiche. 1992. Coverage of all UK , Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

* Unpublished Indexes

* Parish Registers
- Eastbourne Parish Registers:
Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1558 - 1837
- St Mary's Register of Baptisms 1837 - 1896

* Periodicals (excl. newspapers)
- Eastbourne Local Historian
- Eastbourne Natural History and Archaeology Society
- Family Roots
- Sussex Archaeological Collections 1840 –
- Sussex County Magazine 1927 – 1956
- Sussex Genealogist & Local Historian 1979 - 1986

* Newspapers:
- Eastbourne Gazette (microfilm)
- Eastbourne Chronicle (microfilm)
- Eastbourne Herald (bound copies)