Kensington Central Library – December 2013

Kensington Central Library

Hello to you all from the staff at Kensington Central Library. We’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you’re planning on visiting us over the holidays please check our Christmas and New Year opening hours first.

We’ve had another busy month so read on to find out what’s been happening.

The Open University

Sandeep Dhaliwal, one of our Tri-Borough Reference Librarians blogged about The Open University coming to Kensington Central Library last week to deliver one of their Information Events.

Over to Sandeep to tell us more…..

The Open University Information Event on Monday 9 December at Kensington Central Reference Library

The Open University at Kensington Central Reference Library

I am pleased to say that we had 43 visitors to this event with over two-thirds attendees from West London.

Two of the very helpful members of staff from The Open University

The diverse age range of the attendees highlighted that learning is a life-long exercise – people aged in their early 20s to the over 60s came along.

Receiving advice from The Open University

If you missed this event, there is another in the new year at Chelsea Library which will take place in March 2014.

For more information please visit The Open University’s website.

To see what other events we have check out our What’s On page on our website.

Sandeep Dhaliwal

Tri-borough Reference Librarian

New signage at Kensington Central Library

It’s been a long time coming but we finally have some new signage in the adult lending and children’s libraries. I really enjoyed working with the borough’s designer and the graphics company to ensure we got the signage we needed. It was fascinating learning about fonts, types of signs and even staying late to supervise the installation. We really hope our customers find the library easier to use.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…..

The staff have done an excellent job at decorating the library for this special time – hope you like our decorations!

We also had a very special visitor on Friday 20 December – Father Christmas made time in his busy schedule to attend our baby rhyme time. Kids and adults alike very pleased to see him and he felt like a celebrity with all the photos that were taken!

Father Christmas at Kensington Central Library!

At our last story and craft session on Saturday 21 December – the children had great fun making Christmas wreaths using paper plates, green paper and red glitter.

So Happy Christmas from us all!

Jodie Green

Jodie Green

Lending Librarian

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The grand Chelsea Children’s Library refurbishment

 

Chelsea Library

Chelsea Children’s Library was closed from the 11 to 27 of March this year for a refurbishment.  We have now completed the final bits and pieces and can reveal to you our new super duper children’s area.  Take a peek at the photos on the slideshow below.

 As you can see there’s a lighter airier feel with the pale blue walls, new carpet, signage and  upgraded lighting.

In addition to improving the overall ambience, we’ve also brought in new furniture which has proved to be a great hit with both children and adults.  These include little ‘bucket’ chairs and tables for younger children to sit and read at, as well as car-themed book trunks for board books.  There are also new chairs for the computers and more tables in the Young People’s Zone which has given much needed extra capacity for the study work areas.

The smart new blue signage is vibrant and allows people to easily find what they’re looking for and the new face-on display units will allow staff to present not only new stock but also promote themed collections and special events throughout the year.

The artist Victoria White, who has previously worked with Kensington and Chelsea libraries (when she created a photographic portrait of the Chelsea locality – these pictures can be seen in the lending library) was asked to produce a large painting especially for the Children’s Library with “floating balloons and colourful moons.”  Thumbs up to Kensington and Chelsea libraries for ambitiously commissioning a new piece of contemporary art.  It has proved popular with the children giving the library its own signature flair.

This was a great opportunity to also enhance the existing book collections with new stock added, in particular, children’s fiction and non-fiction, picture books and teen fiction and non-fiction.

These works were partly funded by a very generous bequest and Chelsea Library is extremely grateful for this kind support.

And finally a big thanks to staff members,  Helen and Sue who successfully brought the project in on time and in budget. And a huge thanks to all the staff at Chelsea – who when the lift gave up the ghost, rolled up their sleeves and carried all the books up two floors so that Children’sLibrary could be restocked and open as scheduled – you’re all stars!

Nadia and James

Chelsea Library