Forum Topic

Hanwell library's great refurbishment

Wow! Put my head round the door and the refurbishment is awesome. Magnificent work - well done John Laing who now have the contract to run Ealing's libraries. The soft furnishings, the atrium of light, cash point style return machines, screen prints of Hanwell covering the walls and a circular reception desk surely now makes Hanwell the best library in the borough. Take a look for yourself: it just shows what one can do if you invest in public services.  There is a re-opening day celebration this coming Saturday (13th) between 10.00 and 16.00 to mark the most appealing refit I have ever seen. More info can be found on Ealing Council's website.Incidentally, I never knew until today that we can use our library membership cards to access computers and borrow books from libraries in other boroughs. There will be some know-it-alls out there who did (and, if so, could you name the full list?), but for the uninformed here is the list of boroughs that you are also recognised as being a member of once you have signed up as a member of Ealing's library service:Barking & DagenhamBexleyBrentEnfieldHackneyHaveringKingstonLewishamMertonNewhamRedbridgeTower HameltsWaltham ForestWandsworthIf you are using a computer (like I was in Wandsworth) you use your same membership number and PIN code.

Ben Owen ● 4649d6 Comments

Ben Owen wrote -Incidentally, I never knew until today that we can use our library membership cards to access computers and borrow books from libraries in other boroughs. -----------The only reason Ealing joined the "London LibrariesConsortium" (so called) was because with a joint(and totally useless catalogue) they could hide the evidence of their effectively scrapping around 90% of the reference stock which was formerely held in the Central Library. For instance Ealing formerly had large and comprehensive  holdings in both bibliography and the history of the book.Most probably the largest of any public library in London. All gone. As have countless other categoriesin almost their entirety.Most probably because the leisure managers who oversaw the refit and chose the soft furnishingscarpets and low shelving etc had never even heard of bibliography.  The nearest decent reference library to Ealingis now Kensington Main library, behind the High St which is largely unchanged in its main elements since it was first built.It maybe goes without saying that Kensington is not a member of the consortium unlike Barking & Dagenham,Brent, Newham etc.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 4644d

Not surprising Pat, with a Mayfair readership base.  Me? I've always grubbed-along with Zane Gray and Catherine Cookson.

Gerry Tan ● 4645d

I know that you can register with a library in the borough of your workplace.  I used to use the library in Mayfair and their selection of new books was far superior.

Pat Kingham ● 4645d

Well done indeed.The public bookable space up stairs looks to be in fine condition. Let's hope the price to hire it is not so high that it stifles community use.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4645d

Well done Hanwell Community Forum - a good result. Hanwell's looking up.

Gerry Tan ● 4645d

Hanwell Library is looking magnificent I agree with you Ben. This has nothing to do with John Laing who will be, as from 1st September, running our libraries in the borough, having secured a contract with Ealing council. The history of Hanwell library's refurbishment is a success story. Success of Hanwell residents fighting to save the library from closing. Success of our councillors supporting the residents, success of Ealing Council officers working with the residents and listening to Hanwellians about what they thought their library should be. Not only as a valued historic and listed building but also as a much needed and improved education tool for the community. Many meetings between the Special Projects team and Library services of Ealing council and Hanwell Community Forum took place to achieve the magnificent restoration one can admire today. For me the story is about how Councils can work successfully with communities to understand their needs  and to deliver the right services. Let's make sure we now maximize the use of our library for the benefit of the Hanwellians.

Dominique Morgan ● 4645d