Formed in 1998, the Friends of West Hampstead Library (FoWHL) is a community organisation consisting of around 600 library users – mostly local residents but also people who work in West Hampstead or are passing through.

Our main aim is to ensure that, at a time of deep cuts in council budgets, the library remains open, and continues to provide the level of core services that library users need and want, and which local residents fund through their council tax.

Like the library itself, membership of FoWHL is free. To become a FoWHL member and receive notice of all future events, or to send an email, click here

If you are not on email, keep an eye on the FoWHL noticeboard (by the lift, inside the library). Or follow us on @FoWHLNW6

OUR NEXT EVENT – APRIL 10
Our next FoWHL event is on Tuesday April 10 when our guest will be John Lloyd (a contributing editor to the Financial Times and co-founder of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford), who will be discussing the current state of journalism, fake news, and his new book The Power and the Story – The Global Battle for News and Information, with former BBC News Editor David Stevenson.

Further details and booking arrangements click here.


FoWHL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

If you are on FoWHL's membership list then look out for our very first membership survey, which is being sent out to all members, starting in mid March.

Please do fill it in so that we can update our records and find out more about your interest in the library.

If you are on our membership list and have NOT received your survey by March 17, please email us here.


SIR DEREK ENTERTAINS

Just before Christmas West Hampstead Library was once again packed to the gills, this time for an evening of thespian tales and backstage gossip, courtesy of Sir Derek Jacobi (below) who has recently moved to the area.
Read the full report here.
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'The luckiest actor there has ever been' – Derek Jacobi introduces himself at West Hampstead Library with typical modesty (photo Janet Nabney)
A packed house, a front row full of decision makers,
a library devotee and government advisor in the
hot seat, elections, a clock unveiling, speeches,
a cake and... a pledge

'OVER MY DEAD BODY'

Camden's Head of Culture and Communities pledges an end to library closures at FoWHL AGM
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photo Janet Nabney
Watched on by Tulip Siddiq MP (right) and a packed and often passionate meeting of library users, former West Hampstead Councillor Jonathan Simpson (left) made a rousing return to his old patch by making this pledge at FoWHL's recent AGM: 'It will be over my dead body that libraries in Camden will close.'

Simpson, who is now Camden's Head of Culture and Communities, was speaking as a part of an open debate on the future of West Hampstead Library attended by an array of local politicians, Camden officials and representatives of local community associations. They were addressed by special guest, Sheila Bennett, a member of the Government's Libraries Taskforce, as part of FoWHL's lively AGM and 20th Anniversary celebration on February 15. The evening also featured an empassioned speech by FoWHL founder Cllr Flick Rea, the retirement of longstanding committee member Alan Templeton, and the unveiling of a new library clock.

To read our report of the evening, click here.

To read the Ham & High report, click here.

Meet Libby – and start reading

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Did you know that as well as thousands of books, journal, CDs and DVDs, West Hampstead Library now has a selection of e-books and audiobooks available for you, at no charge?
All you need is a Camden Libraries ticket, and an app called Libby.
Once you have signed in as a West Hampstead Library user,  you can download the books instantly, using whichever device suits you best.

Click here to learn more

And when you have tried it, please let us know how you got on, and what you think.


• Please note this website supersedes our previous website at www.fowhl.co.uk