Belsize Community Library on Antrim Road is stronger than ever as it looks ahead to its ninetieth birthday next spring. For the past fourteen years, neighbourhood organisation The Winch has stewarded our local library, and last year it appointed the book-loving Asa Williams to oversee the running of the library. 2025 was also when the library won the Community Heritage Award at the UK Locality Awards which celebrate community organisations and local-sector changemakers.
In conversation with Asa Williams, he’s eager to talk about the 25 volunteers and the helpful teenagers who work at the library as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. He praises community librarian Shaan Obaray who “does an amazing job organising the donated books, making sure that there are books for all kinds of readers and representing the linguistic diversity of our community.”
One clever idea that the volunteers suggested was to create themes for the constantly-changing main book display, where you can usually find at least a couple of books recently published.
In July 2026 during the World Cup there was a display book written by a well-known author from every World Cup qualifier. By the time of the final there was Labyrinths by Argentine author Jose Luis Borges v Don Quixote by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. (Charles Dickens represented England, Robert L. Stevenson for Scotland, Emile Zola for France and James Baldwin ‘played’ for America!)
The main book display stand during August 2026
The Library Pavement Lounge
Asa and the volunteers have done an amazing job creating an usable garden around the library entrance. Window boxes brim with stripy petunias, there’s flowers and plants around the two trees which now can’t be overlooked, and bright red peonias lining the black railing.
Apparently the outdoor seating area is making locals happy, children get to water the garden, and a particularly enthusiastic five-year-old helps Asa every morning!
Library Events for Children
Three sessions at the library are geared towards giving local children fun and learning. Monday’s Rhyme and Story Time for under-5s can average around 30 attendees, sometimes as many as 50 may join. On a Wednesday morning, the Bright Beginnings session, which focuses on play and singing, happens before the library opens to the public so the children can use the entire space. The Monday afternoon Stories and Games for children 5-9 years with their parents or carers is run by The American Women’s Club.
Library Events for Adults
As well as benefitting from the library’s calm and the comfortable furniture to do their own thing, there are scheduled sessions which, by catering for all ages, make seniors feel welcome.
Heidi leads a popular Qi Gong hour on Tuesdays and the monthly Belsize Book Club already has a handful of committed members and would welcome more. The group chooses a classic or modern novel to discuss.
The Friends of Belsize Library, first established in 1988, continue to provide interesting historical talks, lectures and author events every month. The entrance fee is nominal, no need to pre-book, and these events are also an opportunity to meet like-minded people. And for something different but just as inspiring, the library hosts a monthly Open Mic Spoken Word event.
As a place where, according to Asa, “intersectional groups can meet and make their own communities,” the Wednesday Crafternoon session is attended by several Ukrainians who are also part of the charity Families for Peace.
On Saturdays, Gathering Leaves hosts the Hong Kong Library to keep connected through reading and creative activities. And monthly there’s a French Conversation group which is open to all levels.
Asa loves how the library not only provides books for everyone and gives voice to authors, but as a third space (not home or work environment) it directly nurtures anybody walking through the door.
He enthusiastically speaks of “the library’s mosaic of activities which we hope reflect the diverse community of Belsize.”
www.thewinch.org/belsize-community-library
