About the library
Swiss Cottage Library is open for customers to browse and choose their own books, visit our children's library, and use our public computers and study spaces.
Customers don’t need to book computers in advance: computers are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Access is limited to four hours per day. You can also scan, print and photocopy documents. View the Acceptable Use of Public Computers policy (PDF) and our Acceptable use of Wifi policy (PDF).
You can return any library items you have borrowed within the opening hours.
We also offer a range of activities for our library users, see: What's on this month.
The library has a number of measures in place to keep customers and staff safe.
Our services may change at short notice. For the latest information, see Library news.
Swiss at Sixty
The library service is celebrating the sixtieth year of Swiss Cottage Library. The library was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 10 November 1964. An exhibition, Swiss at Sixty: The Swiss Cottage Library Story, will open in the Gallery at Swiss Cottage Library on March 7th charting the history of this architecturally iconic library. The exhibition has been created by the Local Studies and Archive Service and will be in the Gallery until 3rd April. After which the exhibition will move to Holborn Library.
Also to help celebrate the 60th year the children’s library has been redesigned and there will also be a photographic exhibition created by Camden Adult Community Learning students working on the digital photography course ‘Swiss at Sixty’ who have spent seven months exploring and photographing Swiss Cottage Library. At the outset, the group aim was to create architectural shots of the building both internally and externally, and to learn something of its history. Quite quickly this theme developed and evolved into an exploration not only of the striking and photogenic space, but of its impact on and importance to the local community, who had walked, sat, studied and dreamed within its walls.
Please come and visit to see the exhibitions from 7 March to 3 April.
Address
Swiss Cottage Library
88 Avenue Road
NW3 3HA
Opening times
Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8pm
Friday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: closed
See the Library opening times around public holidays.
Services
- Access to PCs, photocopying and printing
- Browsing and choosing books in adult and children's libraries
- Study space
- Changing Places Accessible toilet
Displaying posters and flyers
The library displays posters to promote local events and services. Our Community Information Policy outlines the criteria used when deciding whether to display a particular poster.
Contact
For library enquiries call 020 7974 4444 or email [email protected].
Do you have an idea for an activity or event?
We would like to hear from you if you have an idea for an activity or event that you could help organise. We will welcome your idea and discuss this with you to see if it's something we can support you to deliver in the library space. There is also Camden Giving if you think your idea needs some resources.
Swiss Cottage Children’s Library to reopen
Following a redesign of Swiss Cottage Children’s library we are pleased to say we plan the new space will reopen on Tuesday 25 February. There will still be some finishing touches over the next couple of weeks, but we wanted to open up the space for families to enjoy. There is also a new space for young people to relax in and find a space to work. We hope you enjoy interacting with the new space and finding somewhere to enjoy reading and exploring through play.