The building

Hornsey Library is a Grade II listed building, one of the London Borough of Haringey's nine library branches.

First opened in 1965 and extensively refurbished in 2020, the library offers regular children's craft activities and story-time sessions, cinema screenings, special events and exhibitions of work by emerging artists, as well as a free-to-use electric piano. The building features T.B. Huxley-Jones' bronze "Reclining figure" sculpture and the "Hornsey window", an intricately etched glass map created by Hornsey School of Art lecturer Fred Mitchell.

Join us for a tour of this beautiful 1960s building. You’ll learn a little bit about the building and about Haringey Libraries, and will also get to explore a part of the library normally off limits to members of the public: our basement Reserve Stock section. We’ll explain how our stock is organised, then you’ll be shown some of the more unusual books we have and have time to browse the rooms and pick out something to borrow.

A must for book lovers and fans of hidden spaces.

Maximum 12 people per tour. Minimum unaccompanied age 16, or 11 if accompanied by an adult. No buggies to be taken into the basement, and visitors must be aware that there are areas with low lighting, tight shelving and dust, so the space is unfortunately not accessible to people with severe mobility or sight issues or severe asthma for this particular event. Tours will last approximately 1 hour and visitors will be free to explore the public areas of the library afterwards if they wish

Reserve Stock

The Reserve Stock section fills the entire basement of the building; Haringey Libraries' older and more delicate books are housed apart from regular browsing areas but are still available for borrowers upon request. With stock originating from as far back as 1890 and a particularly good selection of biographies, Reserve Stock is the hidden jewel in the library's crown.