Alan Carter writes:
The New Library is a Project with a long history which you can read about here : https://www.cricklewoodlibrary.org.uk/welcome/history/
The New Library is designed as a community hub with 2 activity rooms that can be hired out for any socially acceptable purpose. There are bookings already made for the activity rooms and the library space has mobile bookcases that can be rolled into a storage area so the main library hall is also available to be hired for other purposes.
The Active members of Friends of Cricklewood Library have been working for the last 10 years to get the new library open and their efforts have almost got the project finished. Sadly, due to a run of very bad luck and delays resulting from the Covid pandemic, they have now run out of money and needs help to cross the finishing line.
I have helped occasionally, in the past, at fund raising events for the new community library but a few months ago I volunteered to organise a team of other helpers to decorate the library and fit out the bookcases that had been donated by others.
All the rooms were bare plastered walls and ceilings without skirting boards and with broken plasterboard sills to doors and windows (don’t ask) .
Over 4 months of lockdown working socially isolated shifts a small group – mainly 3 pensioners – have decorated all the rooms, repaired the sills and fixed all the permanent bookcases in the library.
You can support the crowdfunder here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-kick-start-cricklewood-community-library-1