For many years, the Stanmore Library, based on Stanmore Hill, has been a crucial community asset in Harrow. The library offers an important service to locals of all ages with a vast selection of books, digital resources, and community events.
A large selection of books, ranging from classic works of literature to the newest bestsellers, historical books – many about Harrow itself, are kept at the library. E-books, audiobooks, and online databases are just a few of the accessible digital tools that give users access to a plethora of knowledge.
But, Stanmore Library is more than just a repository for printed and digital materials. Together with regular workshops and activities for children and adults alike, it serves as a focal point for community events. The library offers a warm and friendly venue for all parts of the community to come together and connect with each other, from reading groups to author visits.
The library regularly features events which offer readers a special chance to hear from interesting speakers, such as Aaron Brohi who recently presented The Wiener Holocaust Library, one of the world’s leading and most extensive archives on the Holocaust, the Nazi era and genocide.
Beyond its physical boundaries, the library is dedicated to fostering literacy and a love of reading. It frequently collaborates with neighbourhood schools to offer materials and support for literacy initiatives, and it plays a significant role in the yearly Harrow Libraries Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages kids to read for enjoyment during the summer.
The library has also adapted to the pandemic’s challenges by providing a variety of online activities and tools to keep the neighbourhood busy during lockdowns. Despite these challenging times, the library has continued to offer a valued service to the community through online storytime sessions and virtual author visits.
Many people have been debating the future of libraries in recent years, questioning their usefulness in a time when digital resources are so easily accessible. But Stanmore Library is a testament to the ongoing importance of libraries as gathering places for the community, offering a friendly setting for readers of all ages to interact with books and one another.
Some of the current events running at the library include an Arts and Craft Club – weekly on Tuesdays from 1pm – 3pm, guests are advised to bring their own materials – it’s a great way to meet new people! and a community chess club, also on Tuesdays at 3:30pm – 5:45pm.
Stanmore Library, which offers community members access to a multitude of printed and digital information as well as a location for events and activities, is a crucial community asset. Its relationships with neighbourhood schools and support of the annual Harrow Libraries Summer Reading Challenge demonstrate its dedication to fostering literacy and a love of reading.
