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27 Jun 2026
Adults and children
Our Story
Opened by Mark Twain in 1900, now run by the community
Kensal Rise Library is a community run library, serving the people of Brent with a focus on the wards of Harlesden & Kensal Green, Queens Park and Brondesbury Park.
Our vision is to be the beating heart of our connected, creative community – run by us.
Our mission is to foster an innovative library and public space at the heart of our neighbourhood that is free and welcoming to all, offering a range of services for both adults and children to further literacy, the arts and community cohesion.
We have 3 core aims:
1. To promote love of reading, especially among children
2. To offer a free, warm and safe space for all residents to study, meet up and recharge.
3. To provide a welcoming hub for learning, activities and community engagement.
The library is governed by the Trustees of the Friends of Kensal Rise Library, a charity that was formed in 2011 to campaign against the closure of the historic Kensal Rise Library as a public library by Brent Council. The library was opened by American author Mark Twain in 1900.
The refurbished library opened its doors to the public in autumn 2019 and operates independently of the local authority. The library relies on volunteers, grants, and donations to keep it going.
For more details of the library's extraordinary story, go to About Us or press orange box below.
