General Election on 4 July
See further information about how our libraries will be affected by the General Election on 4 July.
Pancras Square Library
Due to the General Election Pancras Square Library will be closing at 5pm on instead of 8pm on 4 July. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
West Hampstead Library
West Hampstead Library will be closed on Thursday 4 July 2024, as it will be used as a polling station for General Election. It will reopen at the usual time on Friday 5 July 2024. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Your nearest library is Kilburn library 12-22 Kilburn High Road NW6 5UH .You can also access our digital library, which offers a wide range of books, audio books, and more at Digital Library.
Camden Town Library
From Monday 1 to Friday 5 July, Camden Town Library Learning Centre will be used as a polling station for the General Election. Public PC’s, printing and photocopying will not be accessible during this period. However, the main library is open during it's usual hours. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Your nearest library for access to Public PC’s, printing and photocopying is Pancras Square Library, Pancras Square N1C 4AG and or Kentish Town Library 262 to 266, Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AA
Essential maintenance on library management system impacting digital services
From 1 – 7 July 2024, library users will not be able to borrow or return library items at the enquiry desks. All items must be borrowed and returned at the library self-issue kiosks. You will not be able to renew items online and you will not be able to telephone and renew via Contact Camden. During this week, you will not incur fines. We apologise for any inconvenience.
If required, library staff will be pleased to help.
Please note that as from Monday 24 June – 8 July 2024 you will also not be able to:
• place SELMS reservations (library services outside Camden)
• place local reservations (reserving titles from another Camden Library)
• some of the online resources may not be available on our Digital Library
• the Suggestion for stock purchase function is now disabled
Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music exhibition
The British Library has launched the Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music exhibition which opened on Friday 26 April and is running until 26 August 2024.
The exhibition shines a spotlight on different voices and perspectives to celebrate Black British music as a form of entertainment and vehicle for community, as well as a source of liberation, protest and education.
In conjunction with this exhibition, as a member of the Living Knowledge Network, Camden Libraries are displaying free-standing Beyond the Bassline panels in four libraries and are also planning music events at each of the four libraries.
Beyond the Bassline: 500; Exhibition Touring dates:
- Swiss Cottage Library: 26 April to 31 May 2024
- Holborn Library: 1 June to 27 June 2024
- Pancras Square Library: 28 June to 26 July
- Kilburn Library: 27 July to 26 August 2024
Highgate Library to benefit from decarbonisation project
Camden Council is investing £1.7m in the much-cherished Highgate Library on Chester Road.
On 22 December 2023 Highgate Library closed for the decarbonisation project. We currently have a Library Pop Up Bus parked in Chester Road near the library on two days a week: Tuesday and Wednesday, 12.30-4.30pm. The services that are available are
- Returning items ( books)
- Making book reservations
- A signposting and information offer
- Find out how to access the online e-books
- Click and collect ( small collection of books for people to borrow )
Kentish Town Library is the closest library so please do explore what’s on offer there and if you are unable to visit Kentish Town Library please let us know and the Home Library Service can visit you with a selection of books.
Find out more about the decarbonisation project and benefits for residents.
Explore your reading choices at Camden Libraries
Thanks to funding from the British Library’s 'LibraryOn' programme all Camden Libraries now have an accessible computer for visually impaired to come into the library and access. The project is being delivered in partnership with RNIB who have gifted 200 Envoy Connects to enable visually impaired Camden residents so they can visit one of the Camden Libraries and download e audio books from Camden Libraries’ digital library and the RNIB’s digital library. The library team are able to support residents if they come in with their Envoy Connect to download books.
If you're not already a Library member:
Find out how to join Camden Libraries
Please be aware that services may change again depending on further government announcements.
You can also get a wide selection of e-books, e-newspapers and other digital resources through our Digital Library.
We will be adding to these resources in the future. Check back here for more news.