Leytonstone Library

{{Short description|Public library in London, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox library

| name = Leystonstone Library

| logo =

| image = Leytonstone Library 5.jpg

| caption = Leytonstone Library, viewed from Church Lane

| country = England

| type = Public Library

| scope =

| established = {{start date and age|1934}}

| architect = James Ambrose Dartnall

| dissolved =

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| location = Leytonstone, Waltham Forest

| service_area =

| coordinates =

| location_map = Greater London

| mapframe = no

| branch_of =

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| items_collected = {{Format price|19000}} books

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| parent_organization= Waltham Forest Libraries

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| website = {{URL|walthamforest.gov.uk/content/leytonstone-library-plus}}

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}}

Leytonstone Library is a public library in Leytonstone, London{{cite web |title=Leytonstone Library Plus |url=http://walthamforest.gov.uk/content/leytonstone-library-plus|publisher=Waltham Forest Borough Council}} and a grade II* listed building. The library was built in 1934 for Leyton Urban District Council, and is now managed by the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

The building's ground floor is let out to retail units with the library on the floor above, which allowed for the construction of a much larger building than would have otherwise been possible. This makes Leytonstone Library an early example of a library being constructed as part of multi-function buildings with both municipal and commercial services, according to Historic England who describe it as "a suburban branch library of considerable architectural ambition ".{{NHLE|num= 1418380|desc= Leytonstone Library|mode=cs2}}

File:Leytonstone Library 2.jpg

The front of the building and its entrance lobby, however, was still built in a grand art deco style under the instruction of librarian of the borough, Edward Sydney, with the intention that it should "reflect the pride of the local authority in its library service".{{cite news |last1=Barnaby |first1=Davis |title=The Leytonstone Library that became 'a symbol of freedom and democracy' in war propaganda |url=https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/13716412.history-leytonstone-library-became-a-symbol-freedom-democracy-war-propaganda/ |work=East London and West Essex Guardian|date=12 September 2015}}

{{multiple image

|align = left | perrow = 2| total_width = 230

|image1= Public Library- the work of Leyton Public Library Service, Church Lane, Leytonstone, London, England, UK, September 1944 D22109.jpg

|image2= Public Library- the work of Leyton Public Library Service, Church Lane, Leytonstone, London, England, UK, September 1944 D22113.jpg

|image3 = Public Library- the work of Leyton Public Library Service, Church Lane, Leytonstone, London, England, UK, September 1944 D22114.jpg

|image4 = Public Library- the work of Leyton Public Library Service, Church Lane, Leytonstone, London, England, UK, September 1944 D22131.jpg

|footer =Photographs of Leystonstone Library commissioned by the Ministry of Information, now archived by the Imperial War Museum.

}}

During the Second World War, The British Ministry of Information commissioned a series of photographs of the library's interior showing patrons freely browsing the catalogues for use in war propaganda to show a stark contrast with Nazi book-burning, making the library a symbol of freedom and democracy.

Following a £{{Format price|1500000}} investment from Waltham Forest Borough Council and an 11-month closure ending in September 2015, the library's facilities now include a theatre hall, upgraded ICT facilities and faster wi-fi, and dedicated sections for adults, teens and children.{{cite news |last1=Natalie |first1=Glanvill |title=Leytonstone Library was closed for 11 months |url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/13628035.grade-ii-listed-library-reopens-1-5m-refurbishment/ |work=Harrow Times |date=26 August 2015}}

{{Infobox designation list

| embed = no

| designation1 = Grade II*

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| designation1_date = 28 April 2014

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| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1418380|short=yes}}

}}