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.

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

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FoWHL AGM 2020 report

FoWHL's AGM took place on March 10 and resulted in the re-election of David Stevenson as Chair, for his second term of office. Following the departure of Treasurer Simon Mulliner (see News), Secretary Christine Marchant has taken on the role of Treasurer.

However, FoWHL now has a vacancy on its committee, and in particular is looking for someone to take the minutes at meetings (about three times a year).

If you would be interested in joining us, or have other skills you think FoWHL can use, please ​​email us here and we can tell you more.

FoWHL FM update

Regrettably, FoWHL FM – our informal study and discussion group, held on the First Monday of every month in the Children's Library from 6-7pm – will not take place until the current Coronavirus crisis is over. (Photo by Janet Nabney)

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FoWHL Rhyme Time sessions

Also cancelled until further notice.

From the FoWHL archive

Remember this? In May 2003 the American textile designer and artist Kaffe Fassett (seated centre) – resident in the area since the 1960s – brought a real dash of colour to the library, along with an audience kitted out in their most flamboyant knitwear! Kaffe urged them all, 'Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Always go to extremes!' For more images from our events archive, go to our What's On page.

Calling all library users –
alas the library is closed until further notice, but there's still a lot of library content out there, online and free. FoWHL chair David Stevenson offers this step by step guide to accessing e-books, audiobooks and other online media, courtesy of Camden Libraries

As you know, our beloved West Hampstead Library remains closed for the foreseeable future owing to the Covid 19 pandemic. Existing loans have been extended to July 16 2020 so there’s no need to worry about returning books. But if you do fancy something new to read, for yourself or the children, there’s a huge range available to view online or download. 
 
Step One
First you’ll need your library membership number, which you will find on your Camden Library Card (a 14 digit number), and your pin number, plus of course an internet connection and a Kindle, tablet, laptop, smartphone or any other digital or audio reader. 
 
Step Two
To read the content you can use a variety of different reading Apps (such as Adobe Digital Edition), but the one preferred by Camden Libraries is called Libby, which you can dowload as you would any other free App. Click here to access Libby.
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Step Three
Now click here for the Camden Libraries website. On the right hand side menu click on the link that says “Login to Your Library Account”. 
 
Log in using your Borrower ID (that is, the 14 digit number on your library card) and your four number pin.
 
On the next page, click on the right hand link that says “Your Digital Library”. 
 
There’s a similar link half way down the page. If that does not appear, click here.

 Scroll down the page until you find these three links, each explained below:
 
Overdrive e-Books and e-Audiobooks

online newspapers and magazines 

RGdigital books, audiobooks, magazines and graphic novels 
 
(Actually there’s a fourth link lower down which leads to a host of online references, dictionaries, Ancestry, Who’s Who, ODNB, Grove Art Online and others, but we’ll leave that to another time).
 
Overdrive
Overdrive, despite its name, is a searchable database of over eight thousand ebooks available on loan, to read online or download on to your device. There’s also a smaller selection of audiobooks, including, should you wish, a set of Harry Potter books in various languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Korean and Arabic.
 
Note, the Overdrive digital library works like a real library in the sense that once you’ve downloaded an ebook or audiobook, that title is no longer available to others. If the title says  ‘Available’ above the cover, each title can be 'borrowed' for a maximum of 21 days and listened to either via your browser, or via the Libby App. Then, once you’ve finished, return the title as soon as you can (via Libby) to give others a chance of borrowing it. If you forget, it will simply disappear from your device after 21 days.
 
If the title is llsted on Overdrive, but is not available to ‘borrow’ (as indicated by a banner on top of the cover saying ‘wait list’) you can add it to your wish list.
 
Online newspapers
Clicking on “Online Newspapers” will take you to a range of over 7,300 newspapers and magazines from around the world, all available to read either partially or wholly online. In each case you’ll be prompted to enter your library card number and pin. 
 
Instead of Libby, for access to the online newspapers and magazines you will be directed to an App called Pressreader. If you sign up for a free account you get limited access (that is, you can only view certain pages, not the full publication). Or you can take out a free seven day trial. Or pay as you go (for example a full copy of The Guardian or The Scotsman costs £1.99, or £3.99 for the Wall Street Journal, or just 79p for El Pais). Or you can take out a subscription which gives you full access. When I looked a monthly subscription cost £27.49, which is not bad if you use the service regularly.
 
RBdigital
The third link will take you to RBdigital, a relatively new service, with a tremendous, searchable selection of e-books, audio books, magazines and even comics for loan. It is similar to Overdrive but with greater choice. I immediately spotted best sellers by Sally Rooney and Michelle Obama as well as recent works by Philip Pullman, Hilary Mantel, Jonathan Coe and Marian Keyes but I’m sure there’s something for everyone here, including children. For Audiobooks, as is the case with Libby, you can listen to a short sample before choosing.
 
Be aware that like Overdrive, if an ebook is already being ‘borrowed’ you will need to click on ‘Hold’ (that is, join a queue for when it becomes available). But if you’re desperate, the book you want might also be available from the site as an audiobook, because, it would appear, with audiobooks on RBdigital any number of people can access them at the same time.
 
You’ll need to register separately for an RBdigital account with a username and a password plus your email address and Camden library card number. Once you’ve registered, the three bars at the top left-hand side of the page take you to a menu showing what you’ve borrowed, your account details and an unusually helpful “help” section.
 
I won’t pretend that these digital services are perfect. Some of the interfaces seem muddled and poorly designed. FoWHL would be particularly interested in what users feel are the comparative pros and cons of Overdrive and RBdigital. But with a bit of patience, and hopefully aided by this guide, these services do offer library users a great deal of excellent content for free. And of course ebooks and audiobooks, magazines and comics are a great way to keep you and your family entertained and stimulated during these difficult times. 
 
Not to mention demonstrating to Camden Council how much we value our local library.
 
• If you have found this article useful or have any hints or suggestions you want to share with FoWHL members, please let us know at friendsofwhl@gmail.com

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