Historical information

Kew's first library was the Kew Literary and Scientific Society, which opened on 6 August 1860. In 1937 The library was closed for a major overhaul of stock and renovation of the building. It reopened in December 1937 and remained there for more than 35 years. The Library was situated beside the Town Hall. In 1954, Rowland Chipperfield, City Building Surveyor, designed a new library with a new Children's section and extensions to the adult library. In 1973 when the Civic Centre opened in Charles Street, Kew, the library moved in. By 1987, Kew Library had moved to its current location in the converted city hall, overlooking the Alexandra Gardens. The present library was officially opened at this site on Friday 23 October 1987.

Physical description

Colourised photograph, front facade of City of Kew Municipal Library, Walpole Street, Kew, c.1954-1960. Single-storey modernist extension, flat roof, painted brickwork, central projecting bay with raised lettering “CITY OF KEW MUNICIPAL LIBRARY” and large picture window, steel-framed glazing and entrances to left and right. Gable of former timber library building visible above centre roofline, behind extension.