Formed in 1998, the Friends of West Hampstead Library (FoWHL) is a community organisation consisting of around 400 library users – mostly local residents but also people who work in West Hampstead or are passing through.

Its main aim is to ensure that the library remains open, as a library, and that, at a time of cuts, this core function is not subsumed by other activities in the building.

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) for news of events and meetings

OUR NEXT EVENT

Thursday October 27 at 7.30pm
Ted Booth, our Writer in Residence, teams up with Flick Rea to present an evening of Hampstead Poets.  Details here

PUBLIC POLL BACKS LIBRARIES

'Don't touch our library services!' That is the message from a poll of nearly 25,000 people conducted by the website MoneySavingExport.com. This and more news of library campaigning around the country can be found on our News Page.

WANTED!

Do you have any surplus toys suitable for the under 5s? If so, the Children's Library would welcome your donations.
Also needed, games for the 5-10 age group, such as Frustration!
(if donating, please mention FoWHL)

LOVING THE LIBRARY

'I'm getting quite into blogging and crafts and wondered if there were any books in the library that might help. There were!'
Dr Liz Watts, West Hampstead resident and aspiring blogger

LIBRARY TO CLOSE FOR TWO WEEKS

Library users in West Hampstead should be aware that the library will close on Saturday November 19th and reopen on Monday December 5th. During that period both Kilburn and Swiss Cottage libraries will be open.
The temporary closure is to allow Camden to install a new swipe-card entry system by which during certain hours of the day entry to the library will be possible only by swiping one's library card through a reader at the main door. The new 'open access' system is part of Camden's efforts to save £800,000 from the annual library budget, whilst keeping all branches open.
For more details of how the new system will work, click here.

FORMER FoWHL PATRON STEPHEN FRY SPEAKS OUT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Stephen Fry, a former West Hampstead resident and patron of the Friends of West Hampstead Library, is one of several contributors to a film documenting the history of British public libraries and their current decline. From their Scottish beginnings in the 18th century, poet Greta Bellamacina and journalist Davina Catt chart the history of UK libraries. Adding their voice to Fry's are Irvine Welsh, Amma Asante and John Cooper Clarke, who plead for libraries to be saved from relentless cuts.
To see a clip from the documentary click below

USE IT OR LOSE IT WARNING

Whether we like it or not, the survival of West Hampstead library will depend ultimately on the numbers of people who go into the library and take out books. On our News Page, FoWHL Treasurer Alan Templeton, who is also chair of the Camden Public Libraries Users Group (CPLUG) reveals the stats behind the message.

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