Islington Central Library

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Islington Central Library
Islington Central Library (16237236403).jpg
The library in March 2014
Islington Central Library
51°32′56″N0°06′25″W / 51.54889°N 0.10694°W / 51.54889; -0.10694
Location2 Fieldway Cres
London, United Kingdom
Type Public library
Established1906;119 years ago (1906)
Architect(s) Henry T. Hare
Branch of Islington Libraries
Collection
Size39,734 [1]
Access and use
Circulation133,782 (2024/25)
Other information
DirectorMoya Kapas
Public transit access Victoria line roundel (no text).svg National Rail logo.svg Overground roundel (no text).svg Overground roundel (no text).svg Highbury & Islington
Piccadilly line roundel (no text).svg Holloway Road
National Rail logo.svg Drayton Park
Website Official website
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated29 September 1972
Reference no. 1292581

The Islington Central Library is the central facility of the Islington Libraries system, and was opened in 1906. At the time of its opening, it was the largest municipal library in London. [2] It was awarded Grade II listed status in 1972. [3]

Contents

Its address is 2 Fieldway Crescent, off of Holloway Road, in the Highbury neighborhood of Islington.

History

Construction

Henry T Hare was famous for including a hare somewhere in his designs Henry Thomas Hare.jpg
Henry T Hare was famous for including a hare somewhere in his designs

The library was designed by Henry T. Hare, who was also responsible for several other Carnegie libraries across Britain, including Islington's North Library and central libraries in Hammersmith (1905), Southend-on-Sea (1905) and Fulham (1908). [4] [5] [6] Construction on the library started in 1906, with CP Roberts as builder. The foundation stone was laid by Alderman Henry Mills JP, Mayor of Islington, on 16 June 1906.

This library, along with three others in Islington (South, Central and West) are Carnegie Libraries, libraries built in part with funding from Andrew Carnegie. In the case of the Central Library, funding provided by Carnegie totaled £20,000.

A photo of the Central Library in the year after its opening Central Library 1907 exterior.jpg
A photo of the Central Library in the year after its opening

The building was opened on 29 September 1906 by Arthur Rucker, principal of the University of London. [7] He declared that public libraries were for three classes of readers: "those who read for amusement, those who read for the purpose of advancing their education, and those who read for the sake of reading, and who gloried in the masterpieces of literarture." [8]

James Duff Brown was the inaugural chief librarian. [8] At the time of its opening, the reference library had a collection of 5,000 books in English, French and German. [2]

Renovation

In 1973–1976, a new extension was added to the building, shifting the entrance from Holloway Road to Fieldway crescent, with the main space behind the historic entrance turned into storage space. [9]

A renovation project, begun in 2019, led to the redevelopment of the 2nd floor reference library, and the creation of a new space for the First Steps Learning Centre on the 1st floor. In January 2022, the final phase of the project was completed, with a refurbished lending library, a new space dedicated to the Tall Stories Theatre Company, and the re-opening of the historic Holloway Road entrance. [10]

Building

Central Library drawing, as featured in the 1906 Academy Architecture and Annual Architectural review Central Library, Islington.jpg
Central Library drawing, as featured in the 1906 Academy Architecture and Annual Architectural review

The building was built in the civic beaux arts style, with the principal front, designed by Hare, facing Holloway Road in Portland stone. The three windows have scrolled brackets each carrying a "different emblematic female head," with the words "Islington Central Library" above. [3] To the right of the windows, there is a statue of Bacon, and to the left, a statue of Spenser, both made by Frederick Schenck. [11]

The library has three floors: a children's library on the first floor, a lending library on the second floor, and a reference library on the third floor. [12] Both entrances to the library have step-free access and automatic double doors, and there is a lift to reach higher floors. [13]

The building lies between Holloway Road and Highbury Fields park. Irish writer Patrick McCabe recalls living across from the library, and he would:

"wake to views of Islington library, with Edmund Spenser and Francis Bacon looking across the road at me. All around there would be people walking, jogging, or playing tennis and doing outdoor classes on Highbury Fields in summer." [14]

Services

Loans from the Central Library consistently exceed 10,000 per month. Central library loans.png
Loans from the Central Library consistently exceed 10,000 per month.

In 2024/25, the Central Library was the library with the most active members (5,793), the highest number of visits (118,875) and the most loans per month (11,149). [15] On top of lending traditional items like books, the library is also the site of one of Islington's toy libraries, where families can borrow toys for free. [16]

On top of serving as a lending library, the Central Library provides access to over 30 free public computers, free wifi, and printing facilities. [17]

The library also hosts a wide array of events. In 2024/25, these included the "Our home" display for Refugee week, a storytelling session with author Chitra Soundar for South Asian Heritage month, and a family art workshop with royal portrait artist Phillip Butah. In 2024/25, the Central Library welcomed 12,872 attendees for events – 20% of attendees to all Islington Library events. [18]

Since 2024, it hosts the Alternative Book Fair. [19]

Main reading room, in 2018 Islington central library (27242474997).jpg
Main reading room, in 2018

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Collection-main catalogue-central library". Islington Libraries. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  2. 1 2 "Islington Public Libraries." The Times , 28 Apr. 1908, p. 5. The Times Digital Archive. Accessed 18 Aug. 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Central Library, Non Civil Parish - 1292581 | Historic England". Historic England. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1358594)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "CENTRAL MUSEUM (1322354)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1358571)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  7. ↑ Chandler, Julia (21 August 2016). "Islington Central library". The Carnegie legacy in England and Wales. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  8. 1 2 "New Public Library At Islington" The Times, October 25, 1907, 8. The Times Digital Archive (accessed August 18, 2025).
  9. ↑ Willats, Eric (April 2021). Streets with a Story: The Book of Islington. Islington Heritage Service.
  10. ↑ "Islington's Central Library renovation sees new hub for acclaimed theatre company and reopening of historic entrance". Islington Council News. 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  11. ↑ Hodgson, Nick. "Francis Bacon, Edmund Spenser, and Classical Busts". Art UK. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Faulkner, Kate (2016-08-21). "Islington Central Library". librarytouristblog. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  13. ↑ Hodgkinson, Tina (March 2024). "Islington Central Library with Disabled Access - London - Euan's Guide". www.euansguide.com. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  14. ↑ McCabe, Patrick (2 February 2014). "Time and place: Patrick McCabe". The Sunday Times . Interviewed by Olly Grant. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Response to Freedom of Information Request 6574453". Islington Council. Information Governance Team. 7 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Find Your Islington | Islington Libraries - Toy libraries". findyour.islington.gov.uk. 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  17. ↑ "Central Library | Islington Council". www.islington.gov.uk. 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  18. ↑ Gannon, Michelle (12 May 2025). Libraries 2024-2025 Performance Report. Islington Council.
  19. ↑ Pracy, Edward (2024-03-14). "Alternative Book Fair running for aspiring authors in Islington". Islington Now. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  20. ↑ "Filmmaker's library studio". Islington Gazette . 3 March 2011.
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