Islington Libraries

Islington Libraries constitute the public library system for the borough of Islington in London. The system has ten constitutent buildings, including the Central Library near Highbury and Islington station.

Islington Libraries
Location	London, United Kingdom.
Branches	10
Access and use
Access requirements	Anyone can join
Circulation	530,267(2024/25) [1]
Population served	250,000 [2]
Members	23,472 (2024/25) [1]
Other information
Director	Michelle Gannon
Website	www.islington.gov.uk/libraries-arts-and-heritage/libraries

History

North Library was the first Islington public library to open, in 1906

Following the passage of the Public Libraries Act and subsequent amendments between 1850 and 1866, free public libraries began in the borough in 1905. The first library, North Library, opened off of Holloway Road in 1906.^[3]

This library, along with four others (South, Central and West) are Carnegie Libraries, libraries built in part with funding from Andrew Carnegie.

As of the Public Libraries and Museums Act of 1964, councils must provide a "comprehensive and efficient library service" to all those "whose residence or place of work is within the library area of the authority or who are undergoing full-time education within that area".^[4]

In 2011, the system began to introduce automated terminals for book check-outs.^[5]

In 2017, Islington opened the Cat and Mouse Library, bucking a national trend of library closures.^[6] The Library was named after Cat and Mouse laws, and aims to recognize the sacrifices endured by Suffragettes imprisoned in Holloway Prison, which used to stand nearby.^[7]

In 2023, Islington Council ended library fines, in the name of access, and in the context of the "cost of living" crisis.^[8]

Governance

Central Library, the main library for Islington Libraries

The Library Service is a part of the Directorate of Community Engagement and Wellbeing.

Within the Islington Council, libraries fall within the Equalities, Communities and Inclusion portfolio. As of 2025, Councillor Sheila Chapman (Labour Party, Junction Ward) is the Executive Member for this portfolio.

The Library Service is also overseen by the Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Branches

As of 2025, Islington operates a total of 10 public libraries.

North, West, Central and South Libraries

The four historic libraries of Islington are Carnegie libraries, and Grade-II listed.^{[9][10][11][12]} They opened between 1906 and 1921.

• North Library was designed by Henry T. Hare and was opened on 29 September 1906 by Alderman Henry Mills JP, Mayor of Islington.^[10] Upon its opening, 14,000 books collected by Revd Robert Spears for the Highgate Hill Unitarian Church were given to the library system.^[13]
• West Library was designed by Beresford Pite, and was built by C Dearing and Sons. It was opened on 24 July 1907, at an estimated cost of £8700, of which £5000 came from Andrew Carnegie.^[14][11][13] The local paper described the ceremony as a 'humorous jumble of bans and blessings'.^[13] The library was renovated
• Central Library construction started in 1906, also with Hare as architect, and CP Roberts as builder. The building was opened by Sir Arthur Rucker on 4 October 1907.^[9] The building was enlarged in 1973-76,^[13] and renovated in 2019-2022, creating a dedicated space for a theater charity.^[15] It remains the headquarters for Islington Libraries.
• South Library building construction started in 1915, and was completed in December 1916. The building was designed by Mervyn Macartney.^[16] It was opened on 21 May 1921 by EH King.^[12]

• Islington Carnegie libraries
• 
  North Library
• 
  West Library
• 
  Central Library
• 
  South Library

Finsbury Library

Finsbury Library entrance

Finsbury Library was originally supposed to be the central library for the borough of Finsbury, and was built as part of the redevelopment of the Skinners estate.^[17] The building was designed by Ludwig Franck, and replaced the Clerkenwell Free Library (built in 1890) -- known as the "first modern library in Great Britain" for its use of open shelving in 1894.^[18][19] The redevelopment was completed in 1967, and the library was opened by then Minister of Power, Richard Marsh, on 11 March, at an estimated cost of £225,000.^[13] At that point, the borough of Finsbury had already been merged into Islington (in 1965) -- and Islington already had a central library. As such, Finsbury Library is much larger than other branch libraries, and also houses the Islington Local History Centre, the Islington Museum, the Islington Computer Skills Centre and the area Housing Office.

Archway, Mildmay, N4, Lewis Carroll, Cat and Mouse Libraries

• The Archway library originally opened on 2 November 1946, and was the first municipal building in Islington to have fluorescent lighting. A redesigned library was opened on 3 December 1980 and was designed by Alfred Head.^[13]
• The Mildmay library was designed by C.M. Cowney, and was opened on 3 April 1954.^[13]
• The N4 Library is part of the City and Islington College building, on Blackstock Road.^[20]
• The Lewis Carroll Children's Library opened in 2008, and remains the most popular library for school visits.^[21]
• The Cat and Mouse library opened on 2 December 2017. It replaced the John Barnes Library, as the Council redeveloped the area.

• 
  Lewis Carroll Children's Library
• 
  Archway Library
• 
  Cat and Mouse Library
• 
  Mildmay Library
• 
  N4 Library

Services

Islington Libraries provides a wide array of services, including access to books, music, DVDs and other physical items; access to e-books, audiobooks and other digital media; as well as access to computers, and the internet. Four of the libraries (Mildmay, North, West and Finsbury) also offer toy libraries, where parents can borrow toys for their children.^[22]

Islington Libraries runs a Home Library Service that can bring books, CDs and DVDs to residents in Islington who find it difficult to get to a library because of age, disability, or caring responsibilities.^[23] The Service is regular and free.

The library also organizes a number of events, ranging from reading and game sessions for children, to exercise and gadget support classes for adults.^[24]

Library visits still have not recovered to pre-covid levels -- but are making progress in that direction

In 2024-2025, the library had 889,990 visits, a 6.5% increase on the previous year, with continued progress towards the pre-covid high of 1,076,355 in 2019-2020 (see figure).^[25]

The library also issued 530,267 items physically (+12%), and 325,833 items online (+4%). It had 23,472 active members (+5.7%).^[25]

62,789 people attended events across the libraries (+9.7%), including 29,633 children.^[25]

See also

• United Kingdom portal
• London portal

• Islington Borough Council
• Islington Local History Centre
• Islington Museum