Community celebrates opening of library’s new home

Volunteers and visitors at a pop-up library in Wembley marked the end of the Olympics in style after they were given the chance to hold the iconic Olympic Torch.

Barham pop-up library held its first official day at their new premises in Wembley High Road, on Saturday, August 11.

To celebrate, Brent torch bearer Keith Gussy-Young popped in to show off the golden torch which he carried through Barham during Brent’s leg of the torch relay last month.

The football coach, from Wembley, posed for pictures with children who were also given the chance to hold it.

The Barham Library campaigners also laid on other entertainment including a street dance performance by youngsters from Hillside Performing Arts Club in Stonebridge.

Barham pop-up Library, which has more than 200 members, was set up in protest at Brent Council’s decision to close half of the borough’s libraries, including Barham Library in Barham Park.

In July, the community effort was forced to move from its temporary home in Barham Primary School in Danethorpe Road to allow the school to undergo regeneration work.

Cllr Paul Lorber, leader of Brent’s Liberal Democrats said: “As expected most of the users of our Volunteer Library are young people.

“It is the young people who are the biggest losers of the decision to close half of Brent’s libraries.

“We are determined to keep up the fight to get back the empty library building in Barham Park and the success of our volunteer library gives us an even greater determination to achieve our objective”

The Barham pop-up library is open every Saturday between 11am and 4pm at 428 Wembley High Road, however the team hope to be able to open for more days in the near future.

The decision to close down Barham, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton Libraries will save the local authority �1m.