Light of Learning Relay, 13th October 2012

the poetry readings begin

the torch arrives

the next torch bearer arrives, with poem 

on, to Neasden Library

Join us Saturday 11am to toast 12 months of the pop up

Please join us if you are in the area - this Saturday as part of a torch relay to mark the anniversary of one year of the pop-up library, Raise a glass, eat cake and read a poem at the library, and if you can't join us, offer up a toast wherever you are to literacy, learning and the love of libraries.

please ask people to sign the petition online by the way bit.ly/NryO4p

The Light of Learning torch relay, will link all six libraries closed by Brent on 13th October 2011. Due to the threat to Willesden Green library, the relay will pass there too. 
11.00 Kensal Rise 
11.30 Willesden Green Library Centre 
12.00 Cricklewood Library 
12.30 Neasden Library 
13.00 Tokyngton Library 
13.45 Barham Popup, Wembley High Road (rest point) 
16.30 Barham Park Library 
17.30 Preston Library, with Guest Readings 
18.00 Move on to PARTY in the Windermere Pub, entertainment, buffet, raffle 
         Windermere Ave, Wembley HA9 8QT 

www.brentsoslibraries.org.uk 

Once again, thanks for your support. 

news update: All Souls opened the library so that Queensbury Deli and our builder could see the premises last Friday. We're waiting for a date to meet the Bursar and Fellows to present our proposal, with the new additional information.

If you want to get in touch, leave a comment or email Friendsofcricklewoodlibrary@gmail.com

Feast for the mind at the library, 13th Oct 2012

It's nearly a year since Brent closed six libraries, including Cricklewood. To mark the event, and celebrate the continuing use of the space as a pop-up library, much-used by locals, words, cake and drinks will be served on Saturday 13th October from 11am. This is part of a light of learning relay, linking the closed libraries. All are welcome.

If you would like to contribute words, food or drink, please get in touch with us, by leaving a comment or emailing Friendsofcricklewoodlibrary@gmail.com.

Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East, by Bernard Kops

How often I went in for warmth and a doze
The newspaper room whilst my world outside froze
And I took out my sardine sandwich feast.
Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East.
And the tramps and the madman and the
chattering crone.
The smell of their farts could turn you to stone
But anywhere, anywhere was better than home.

The joy to escape from family and war.
But how can you have dreams?
you'll end up on the floor.
Be like your brothers, what else is life for?

You're lost and you're drifting, settle down, get a job.
Meet a nice Jewish girl, work hard, earn a few bob.
Get married, have kids; a nice home on the never
and save up for the future and days of rough weather.

Come back down to earth, there is nothing more.
I listened and nodded, like I knew the score.
And early next morning I crept out the door.

Outside it was pouring
I was leaving forever.

I was finally, irrevocably done with this scene,
The trap of my world in Stepney Green.
With nowhere to go and nothing to dream

A loner in love with words, but so lost
and wandering the streets, not counting the cost.
I emerged out of childhood with nowhere to hide
when a door called my name
and pulled me inside.

And being so hungry I fell on the feast.
Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East.

And my brain explodes when I suddenly find,
an orchard within for the heart and the mind.
The past was a mirage I'd left far behind

And I am a locust and I'm at a feast.
Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East.

And Rosenberg also came to get out of the cold
To write poems of fire, but he never grew old.
And here I met Chekhov, Tolstoy, Meyerhold.
I read all their worlds, their dark visions of gold.

The reference library, where my thoughts were to rage.
I ate book after book, page after page.
I scoffed poetry for breakfast and novels for tea.
And plays for my supper. No more poverty.
Welcome young poet, in here you are free
to follow your star to where you should be.

That door of the library was the door into me
And Lorca and Shelley said "Come to the feast."
Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East.

2004

Cricklewood Library - Let's work with All Souls, Oxford

Kilburn times article

The Kilburn Times is covering what's going on at Cricklewood Library. 

Friends blog change...

This blog was formerly called Friends of Cricklewood Library, a group that still exists. Originally formed to support the library by concerned residents after the threatened closure of the Library in 1999. The friends work to promote and heighten public awareness of the library. While it was open they organised regular lectures on topics of local interest.

The library has been closed since October 2011, since when the Friends have set up and maintained a pop-up library.

All Souls started to market the library in July, and Friends of Cricklewood Library submitted a bid to reopen the building for the community, as a mixed use building, including a library, cafe and shared facilities. In time the library will become self-funding.

If you would like to support the library bid, please sign the online petition, and get in touch by emailing us on FriendsofCricklewoodLibrary@gmail.com.

Little Chalfont Library - BBC Report

This library was set up by the community in 2007, and is used as a model for others. Take a look, it isn't a miracle, and council run libraries are still needed.

A day in the life of the Borough Police Commander

This is a speech given by Commander Mark Toland, the Brent Borough Commander, Metropolitan Police on 15th April 2010.

He talks first about growing up in Brent and his career, and how he came to be the Commander. Then he picked an interesting day, 29th June 2009, and talked about what he'd done. As he talked about the day's events, he explained what they were aiming to do and why, and how the public can help the police and vice versa.