West Ealing Community Library (WECL) became a community managed library in July 2019. The aim of the celebration on Saturday 5th April was not only to give the community a fun day but also to encourage more local residents to volunteer as friends to help run and develop the library as a vital facility for all the local community.
Cllr. Yvonne Johnson, Mayor of Ealing attended and supported West Ealing Community Library party in Melbourne Avenue on Saturday 5th April 2025. She formally unveiled the Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley’s self-portrait drawings on the library windows proudly greeting everyone who goes into the library. These drawings represent the Huntley Legacy. Eric Huntley, Ealing’s elder political reformer, campaigner, activist and co-founder of Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, danced to the music of the Akindread band. Local councillors who supported the event included, Cllr. Polly Knewstub and Cllr. Grace Quansah. There were singers and spoken word performers, a DJ, story tellers, face-painting and puppet shows all participated in the vibrant party. Volunteers from the action group signed up over 100 local residents to volunteer to become a Friend of the library.
Catherine FitzGibbon, leader of library’s action group, explained: “We need to sign up many local friends as we’ll always need new support, new energy and new input. We have created a small action group with six of us. As it’s a community library, we need to have a community with whom it dialogues.”
The library’s action group is run solely by volunteers with Catherine FitzGibbon and a team of over 20 other volunteers taking on all the tasks and responsibilities needed to keep the library open. As it currently stands, this action group has no formal status but will probably become the library’s Steering Group once the lease is signed by West Ealing Community CIC as the not-for-profit group with overall responsibility for the library.
A volunteer at this library expresses how she supports WECL Friends. Paula, volunteers one shift a week to help out. In addition, she runs an English class once a week.
Paula said: “Originally asylum seekers needed help with their English conversation but now these classes are for all in need.”
Paula added: “It’s more of a community hub, than being about books. We help people with benefit claims, computer skills, filling out forms and just having someone to chat to.”
The more people who volunteer to help in the library the more the library can offer the community in terms of longer opening hours and more activities and events. Currently the library opens 10am till 5pm Tuesday to Friday and a plan is being drawn up to trial Saturday opening from 10am-2pm.
Cllr. Grace Quansah represents the Walpole ward, where this community library is based and has lived in Hanwell since 1968.
Cllr. Grace said: “As well as volunteers, we need helpers for workshops to offer advice and facilitate the needs of the community. This can all happen through discussions. It’s a two way process.”
Cllr. Grace adds: “We, as a community, want stability. We want to bring the rich multicultural community into this library, where everyone feels valued and is enshrined in this WECL Friends project.”
WECL welcomed large population of crowds from the local community, at the party. Library users gave their views and suggestions on what they want. Some requests were, weekend opening hours, homework club, arts and crafts clubs and book launches.
Following discussions with other community-led libraries, Catherine shares her thoughts about volunteering at WECL:
“Its quite hard to find people who are willing to volunteer at the weekends or in the evenings. Even to stay open in the day you need about 6-8 volunteers for every hour you’re open.”
Paula talks about the future of WECL: “I would like this library to continue as it’s an important resource. It will be lovely to have more local primary schools bringing children in once or twice a month to choose books and to see what they can do here.
“At the moment, we need funding for all these ideas. We’re hoping to take this project to Ealing Council to say this is worth investing in.”
The Worshipful Mayor concluded and supported everyone’s views: “We should have more of this. It’s good that the community can run these things themselves so we don’t lose them.”
West Ealing Community Library would love to have more volunteers. Anyone wishing to regularly help out can come into West Ealing Community Library on Melbourne Avenue and speak to the Volunteer Coordinators – Samantha Stotland (present most mornings) and Ian Harries (present most afternoons).
You can also keep up to date with events, special invites and have your say in the library’s future by becoming a Friend.
Working together to make West Ealing a better place for residents, businesses and visitors.
