by Admin | 4 Feb 2018 | books, latest |
It’s the second birthday of our pop-up library at Willesden Green Station. Yes, it’s been two whole years since TfL allowed us to install our shelves and publicity materials at the station. In that time, we estimate we’ve placed over 1000 books. The library gets an approximately 500 visits a week, which is pretty amazing. Most of the stock is provided by Sonja, who also houses our larger collection of around 15,000 books in her garage, and has done for the last four years. The stock is topped up by donations to Sonja (who can also arrange to collect books locally), and by kind and generous supporters who drop books off on their way through the library.
In the time since the Willesden Green pop up was established, two more outposts have sprung up – one in Cricklewood Thameslink station forecourt, and the other in Kilburn Station. Both are restocked by volunteers, and are also very busy and much appreciated by visitors.
Recently, we’ve noticed that replenished stock has been cleared out very quickly – possibly by people not borrowing the books to read, but taking them to sell. There’s not a lot we can do about this, as the books are open access, but if you spot this kind of thing happening, please let the station staff know. Be assured that no-one from the library organisation will ever clear books out of the pop up libraries – we have enough books to stock our library when it finally opens, honest!
In order to help reduce theft, we’re thinking of introducing a stickering system, to make the books less saleable, but this will be labour intensive. If you’ve a better idea, please share! We really want the library to carry on, even after the permanent library is restored opposite Gladstone Park as we know it’s very much valued by residents and commuters. Please help us by continuing to borrow and return books and keeping your library alive.
by Admin | 7 Jan 2018 | latest |
Following up on our fundraising campaign pledge, we’ll be holding a public meeting in February to update all our supporters on the progress of the library project. We also want to encourage you to help us to plan the future shape of the library service. We’ll be holding a public meeting on 28 February at Ashford Place. More details will follow shortly, but please make a note of the date so you don’t miss out.
by Admin | 18 Nov 2017 | latest |
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by Admin | 25 Sep 2017 | latest |
The team at Cricklewood Library are absolutely cock-a-hoop to announce that we’ve totally smashed our Spacehive Crowdfunding fundraising target. We were looking to raise £113,000 by midnight tonight. By about 10pm last night, the good people of Cricklewood, their long-suffering friends and family (and a big dollop of the Mayor of London’s cash), local businesses The Coop, Beacon Bingo and Wing Yip Cricklewood Superstore, meant that we raised over £115,000. There are so many other people and organisations we have to thank that there isn’t time to do this properly in this post. But we will be recognising everyone who has given money, given in-kind goods or services, pledged funds, donated goods to sell, organised events, delivered leaflets, pestered their neighbours, contacts and family for cash and support, and everyone who has pulled together to help us reach our goal.
The other thing to say is that, this is only Stage 1. We will need still more money going forward, to actually run this library once we’ve kitted it out. If you were going to give through Spacehive and didn’t get a chance (because we got there before the deadline), then there are two ways to do this.
1. Online
You can use our online donation form here There is an option here to allow us to collect Gift Aid on your behalf (as long as you are a UK taxpayer), which will increase the value of your donation by 25%.
2. Cheque
If you’d rather donate offline, please send a cheque payable to Friends of Crickewood Library, to 116 Olive Road, London NW2 6UU. If you would like us to collect Gift Aid on your donation, please download and complete this form and send it with your cheque.
That’s it for now. Don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list if you want to know what we’re doing with your money (I would, if I were you!). It’s here. Watch this space for more news very soon.
With love and thanks from all at the Cricklewood Library Team
