More Than Books: Friendship, Outreach, and Community at the Library

Deborah’s connection to Newham Libraries started in the early 1980s when she started a Saturday job at the old Boleyn Library. Years later when she was at a crossroads in her working life, she thought back to when she was happiest – the Boleyn Library – which led her back to library work in North Woolwich and then Canning Town. She remembers “it really felt like coming home”. I met with Deborah at her home in Custom House, where the first thing that struck me was the shelves stacked high with beautiful books. I interviewed Deborah on 22nd October 2025.

The message which came across emphatically in Deborah’s interview was how the library was a safe place of community and connection for anyone who wanted to use it. Deborah told me about what a typical day as a library assistant might look like, as well as a lot of lovely anecdotes about the quirks of the job too. Deborah particularly enjoyed delivering children’s activities, like rhyme time for under fives which became so popular they added a second session, special author events and the Summer Reading Challenge. She believes “It wasn’t about how many books you read… it was introducing children to a world of possibilities.”

She spoke about the friendships and social connections formed in the library, including the Knit and Natter group which evolved to include days out and about, and one of the local friars who would come in to use the computers and invited people back to the friary for his Friday night film club and pizza. Deborah is passionate about making libraries a safe haven for everyone and she recalls the initiatives she was part of to increase accessibility to people who may experience barriers to attending the library. She started a scheme with Anchor House – a charity providing temporary accommodation to people, based along the road from the library – where people without a permanent address could join the library. She also recalls helping people with digital skills like using a computer, and directing people to other sources of information locally.

The striking Victorian architecture of the old library building made a lasting impression on everyone. Deborah shares vivid memories of “the most gorgeous, mosaiced flooring, traditional original flooring, and then a staircase that would just have blown you away”. During her years working at the library, Deborah recalls changes brought about by refurbishments, service centre mergers and changes in direction with things like book selection. Through all this change, she emphasises the library’s enduring importance as a welcoming, inclusive, community space.