Chapeltown Library at The Reginald Centre
Georgina Pellant
In one shape or form, a library service has been available in Chapeltown since 1878. For a long time, the local library service was part of Reginald Terrace before moving across the road in 2010 into one of the first hubs in Leeds offering community support. When it did, the community chose its name, The Reginald Centre, and history was made.
Visit today, and you’ll find this large library is still very much at the heart of Chapeltown. On its shelves you’ll find books dedicated to the area’s history and the life experiences of some of its residents: from a book on the history of the Leeds West Indian Carnival, first held in 1967, to a special collection donated to the library by Reverend Trevor Bates, the Minister of Roscoe Methodist Church from 1972-81, including his dissertations on Carribean life.
You’ll also find an intriguing and wide-ranging selection of novels and literature, alongside a good range of non-fiction and some spell-binding collections of children’s books. There’s a good area for kids with somewhere for them to sit and read, and an area with computers that’s easy for all to access. Membership to the library is free, and can be applied for in person or online, if you’d like to take books away.
As for The Reginald Centre itself, here locals can access job support, request housing repairs, and benefit from free computer access with Wi-Fi and MS Office. For those looking for help and advice, in-person job support is available Monday to Friday until 5pm. In terms of access, the nearest bus stops are outside the building’s main entrance and there is also a large public car park at its rear with two disabled parking bays.
Teams at the Community Hub also host an array of events for local children, including a Healthy Holiday club where young people eligible for income assessed free school meals can take part in fun, free activities and enjoy a healthy meal away from home. These planned activities vary, and can include everything from sports and swimming, to dance, arts and crafts workshops, and visits to popular local attractions including Temple Newsam and Lotherton Hall.
