The new community library in Kensal Rise is appealing for volunteers who are willing to pitch in when it opens next year.

Brent & Kilburn Times: The community fought to save Kensal Rise Library from closureThe community fought to save Kensal Rise Library from closure (Image: Archant)

The reading room in Bathurst Gardens, will open in the former site of the local authority-run library around March.

The branch was closed by Brent Council in 2011.

Residents united to form Friends of Kensal Rise Library (FOKRL) and fought the closure resulting in the group being given a community space within the Victorian building once it was axed.

Margaret Bailey from FOKRL, told the Times: “We have won our space - maybe not as much as we would have liked - now we need to create our library.

“The community has shown that it can be steadfast when it comes to persistence and support for a library, now is the time to show that together we can make an empty space a public space that we can all be proud of.

“Everyone in the community is welcome to contribute their skills, or indeed learn new skills.

“Working together we will achieve our dream of a library at the heart of our community.”

Ms Bailey is also inviting residents to join the library committee which takes care of the finance, fundraising, communications and operations of the reading room.

The committee will be holding a meeting at the Long Room in St Martin’s Church, Mortimer Road, Kensal Green, on October 1 from 7.30pm – 8.45pm.

All are welcome.

Kensal Rise Library was closed alongside the Neasden, Cricklewood, Preston, Barham and Tokyngton branches to save the council £1million a year.