Willesden residents and Brent councillors have been given their first glimpse of the new and improved library at Willesden Green.

The library opened its doors to the public on Monday (July 27) following a 21st century makeover.

The new library, which features an exhibition space, a museum, archives and a performance space, will be officially opened on Saturday September 12, just in time for when the Rugby World Cup trophy tour comes to Brent.

Willesden Green library boasts 40,000 books, 140 study spaces, 81 computers and 14 iPads all for public use.

Replacing the old library building that was built in the 1980s, the new and improved Willesden Green library still retains an element of the original building to the front, blending the old with the new.

A café is also expected to open in the new building soon.

Councillor James Denselow said: “Libraries today are very much the hubs of our local communities where residents can go to be informed, to educate and be educated, to entertain and be entertained and to socialise.

“It is fantastic therefore to see this stunning twenty-first century building open its doors to the public, offering Willesden residents a chance to do all those things through this new library, performance space, museum, archives and soon a café too - right in the heart of the local community.

“I very much look forward to the official opening on September 12 and hope the whole of Willesden will take the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Rugby World Cup trophy and take a look around this fabulous new local facility.”