CLR James Library from Abigail Young-Powell on Vimeo.
Pictures from the launch of the C.L.R. James permanent exhibition at the C.L.R. James Library
 |
| Ngoma Bishop - Chair of BEMA |
 |
| Selma James and Cllr Jonathon McShane |
 |
| Selma James with exhibition brochure |
 |
| Jonathan McShane & Selma James |
 |
| Ngoma Bishop speaks at launch |
 |
| Ngoma Bishop |
Celebrations for the new Dalston C.L.R James Library
 RENOWNED author Nick Hornby joined 100’s of people on Tuesday 28 February, to celebrate the official opening of Hackney Council's new, Dalston C.L.R James Library.People packed into the state of the art library, one of the biggest to open in the UK this year, to celebrate the boroughs new community facility. Over 1200 people visited throughout the official opening day, and since it's opening in January the library has had around 4000 visitors a week. Nick Hornby, who also signed copies of his book said: “I’m happy to be here. I was keen to come along to this completely amazing event - the opening of Dalston C.L.R James Library – it’s a miracle in 2012 when everyone else in the country is closing theirs. I wouldn’t be the author that I am if it wasn’t for the library. I went every Saturday morning and started reading books at a young age –it changed my life” Sam Weinstein, son of the author, historian and political theorist C.L.R James in whose honour the library is named, and the Black and Ethnic Minority Arts Network (BEMA) also joined the celebration. John Hegley kept the crowd entertained with poems and interactive song. Nick Hornby and Mayor Pipe also presented the winners of the ‘I Love Dalston C.L.R James Library because…’ competition – a simple question to young people using the library which yielded some eloquent responses. Nine year old Samuel Tadese won an Ipod for his entry. He said “I like it because I used to hate reading and now I come here and I love it.” Second place went to eleven year old Milo Rothchild-Davies and in joint third eleven year old Nikita Kaur and nine year old Dijon Hughes, they received book vouchers. Events are continuing this week (until Saturday 3 March 2012) during the ‘Make a noise for libraries’ gala week. More information at: www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries or, from Dalston C.L.R James Library, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ. And, everyone who visits the library and borrows an item will be entered into a draw to win one of two, £50 WH Smith vouchers. Winners will be chosen at random by Horrid Henry and announced on Saturday 3rd March. Dalston C.L.R. James Library is open Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm, Saturdays 9am-5pm and 1-5pm on Sundays. It’s one of the largest public libraries to open recently and it’s twice the size of the one it replaces. Spread over three floors, the super library covers 2600 square metres and features separate adult, teen and children sections, 57 computers, study space, wi-fi and self-service technology and it holds events and reading groups. It’s really easy to join Hackney Libraries, just visit a local library or fill in the online form. Find out more at; www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries or; call 020 8356 3000. Hackney Archives is now open, and the collections are being moved to their new home. In the meantime there are still plenty of resources in the new Search Room on the second floor, including maps, local studies books, copies of historical newspapers on microfilm and the photograph database, containing over 15,000 old photos and paintings of Hackney. The full archives service, providing access to the unique historical documents in the archives, will be available shortly. For more celebration events go to Full Listings. Photography credit Sean Pollock. |
Name row library to open - report from Hackney Citizen
Hackney’s new mega-library in Dalston is set to open its doors, and keeps the name C.L.R. James, following a concerted local campaign
The new Dalston C.L.R. James Library. Photograph: Dominic French
At twice the size of the run down facility it replaces, the three storey Dalston C.L.R. James library will be one of the UK’s largest public lending libraries, boasting 26,000 books, 1600 CD’s and DVD’s, free wi-fi, and 57 computers for public use.
The £4.4m project hit the headlines last year when Hackney Council announced plans to ditch the late C.L.R. James, a popular Afro-Trinidadian historian and journalist, from its name. Diane Abbott MP described the move as “an insult” to the author’s memory – he opened the existing Dalston library which bears his name – and 2,500 people signed a petition which helped reverse the decision.
Cyril Lionel Robert James, Afro-Trinidadian historian, journalist and social theorist
The library also has a children’s area, a teen zone, a study area, meeting rooms and a cafe.
Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Cllr Jonathan McShane said the library would have some of the longest opening hours in London.
He added: “We want this brand new library to be a community hub that all residents can make use of whether it’s for books, study space, the free use of computers or to hold community meetings and events.”
Related:
Campaigners win battle over Dalston CLR James Library name
Hackney Council defends CLR James library ‘Starbucks cafe’ decision
One Response »
Hackney to see new library opening this month - article in net-lettings
People seeking flats to rent in Hackney are to see a state-of-the-art public library opening its doors in the area on January 23rd 2012.
The Dalston CLR James library is the first new council library to be built in Hackney for more than two decades and is set to be one of the largest public libraries in the UK, twice the size of the old CLR James facility it replaces.
Spread over three floors and covering 2,964 sq m, the new site features adult, teenager and children's sections, with each area colour-coded for ease of getting around, while a quick picks area is also available for those in a hurry.
With more than 32,000 items, there are set to be offerings for people of all tastes, including CDs, DVDs, talking books and online reference sources.
Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council's cabinet member for health, social care and culture, said: "We want this brand new library to be a community hub, somewhere that all residents can make use of whether it's for books, study space, the free use of computers or to hold community meetings and events."
This comes after the council conducted a series of improvements at Stoke Newington Library last year.
Posted by Martyn Glynn
Published 11th January, 2012
http://www.net-lettings.co.uk/london-property-news/articles/hackney-to-see-new-library-opening-this-month-2543
Evening Standard report on new library opening
A new state-of-the-art public library is to open in Hackney, the first to be built in the borough for more than 20 years.
Dalston CLR James, set to open its doors on January 23, is twice the size of CLR James library which it is replacing - making it one of the country's largest.It is spread across three floors covering nearly 3,000 square metres and features separate adult, children and teenager sections.
It will also feature a "quick picks" area where those pressed for time can select a best-seller, and issue it to themselves using self-service machines.
Council bosses said the move showed they are "committed" to library services, amid widespread cutbacks across the capital.
Hackney council's cabinet member for health, social care and culture, Jonathan McShane, said: "The council is committed to ensuring that in Hackney we continue to improve our libraries for the benefit of all residents.
"We want this brand new library to be a community hub, somewhere that all residents can make use of whether it's for books, study space, the free use of computers or to hold community meetings and events." The building will stock more than 32,000 items - including 9,500 children's books and 17,000 for adults, as well as more than 1,600 free CDs and DVDs.
It also has 20 dedicated study spaces, 57 computers and free wi-fi.
The library is set to house Hackney Archives, which includes more than 20,000 historic photographs and property records dating back to 1356.
Council bosses in Brent said they have cleared all stock from five of the six libraries it axed last year, despite protests by campaigners. Police were required to prevent Brent SOS Libraries campaigners obstructing council vehicles outside Preston Library.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24026548-hackneys-new-super-library-set-to-open-its-doors.do
Hackney Hive report on new library opening
New Dalston CLR James to open its doors this month
Dalston Jan 11, 2012
The view from outside - Dalston CLR Library
There will be over 32,000 items in the new library and younger readers will have over 9,500 books to choose from and over 17,000 for adults. People also have a choice of over 1600 free CDs and DVDs and over 200 talking books, study materials and online reference sources.
Because of a strong demand for study space and computers by library users, 20 dedicated study spaces have been created along with 2 meeting rooms.
In total there will be 57 computers to use for free. 10 in the children’s section; 10 in the adults section; 22 in the study area; 3 in the Teen Zone, 2 in Quick Picks section and 10 laptops for use the meeting rooms. The library, like all other Hackney libraries has free wi-fi throughout.
Staircase inside Dalston CLR James Library
Contrary to earlier reports the café will not be a Starbucks franchise, although it will serve Starbucks Coffee. Bozdere who with his father runs the Sömine Restaurant in Kingsland High Street, won the contract from Hackney Council last year. Speaking to a local blogger, Bozdere said he was not aware of local supplier Climpson and Sons who are based in Broadway Market, before he made his decision on the supplier.
Hackney Archives, is currently moving its collections, including over 20,000 historic photographs, original records of Hackney Council and other local organisations, and what are thought to be the oldest documents in the collections, a bundle of property records relating to land in different parts of London, dating back to 1356, to their new home. In the meantime the searchroom will open on 23 January, along with the rest of the library, to provide access to some of the local studies collections, including microfilm copies of the Hackney Gazette from 1869, maps, digitised copies of photographs and local history publications. The full archives service, providing access to the unique historical documents in the archives, will open soon after the new library.
The opening has also been long awaited by campaigners who fought hard to retain the name of the late CLR James, a Trinidadian historian, journalist and social theorist, whom the old library was named for.
The brand new Dalston C.L.R. James Library will open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 1pm-5pm on Sunday.
Library opening times are changing across the borough from 23 January at all Hackney Libraries. To find out more about Hackney Council’s libraries and the new opening times visit www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries or contact 0208 356 3000.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
originally the council claimed it had decided that all libraries would be known by their area only. Now this has been dropped, why not go all the way? Lets rename Stoken Newington Library the Daniel Defoe Stoke Newington Library. Who has suggestions for others?
Lets celebrate our literary heritage.
Offensive comment?
http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2012/01/12/dalston-clr-james-library-to-open/comment-page-1/