Refurbished Harlesden Library now open - Kilburn Library is next on the list

 From Brent Council

Harlesden Library reopened on Monday after a £285k refurbishment that has improved the facilities and created a brand-new community space that local people can hire.

Residents will now see new IT facilities, quiet booths for study and a dedicated young adults' area, as well as new furniture.

The Brent Community Hub now has a dedicated area to suit customer needs. Brent Start now also has more classroom space for its adult learning classes.

The library boasts a new hireable community space, which will be available at reasonable rates to hire for events, meetings, workshops, classes and performances.

The cash used to revamp the library - £285k - came from the Libraries Improvement Fund, a programme of work funded by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) via Arts Council England.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture, said:

Libraries are the cornerstone of our communities. Far from being places for people to just read books, they double up as support hubs, warm spaces, community meeting points and so much more.

It is wonderful to see such a transformation of Harlesden Library, creating more space for groups and residents to meet and hold events, as well as building on the vital services the library offers local people.

Local residents will be invited to a community launch of the new library on Saturday 1 July and our regular events such as Booktrust Story and Rhyme Time for under 5s will begin again soon. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to find out more.

In recent years, Brent has invested over £1 million in refurbishing libraries across the borough, helping make them more welcoming and accessible for residents of all ages.

We are pleased to also announce that Kilburn Library will also shortly begin a similar £765k transformation following approval by Cabinet last week (17 April), also supported by a £231k grant from Arts Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund.

Visit our website to find more information on Brent’s library services.