Larkspur Branch is Halden's first new library in twenty-two years: two floors of books, quiet rooms, a makerspace and a hall, on the corner where the old tram depot stood. Membership is free, and everyone is welcome.
No tickets, no queue-jumping, no speeches longer than four minutes. Come for the ribbon, stay for the band, or arrive at dusk and see why we call it the late library.
First 300 through the door get a Larkspur tote and a library card printed on the spot.
Cut by the children of Larkspur Primary, with a short welcome from the city librarian.
Under-fives on the story steps. Repeats at 2 pm and 4 pm.
Every thirty minutes from the front desk, including the archive store and the roof garden.
Forty minutes on the forecourt, then hot cider from the cafe.
Lamps on, quiet music in the reading room, cocoa at the desk. A preview of every weeknight to come.
The building is fully step-free with a hearing loop at every desk. A quiet hour runs from 9 to 10 am on the Sunday after, for anyone who would rather skip the crowds.
Most libraries close as people leave work. Larkspur keeps the lights on until nine, Monday to Thursday, with staff on every floor and the cafe serving until eight.
These hours start on Sunday 4 October. Opening day itself runs 10 am to 9 pm.
Ribbon at 10:30, storytimes, tours, the silver band at three and the first late shift from seven.
Songs and bounces for babies up to eighteen months. Buggies park by the story steps.
The architecture writer in conversation about Halden's unbuilt plans, with drawings from the local studies archive. Free, book a place.
Bring a toaster, a lamp, a torn coat. Volunteers from Halden Menders fix it with you, not for you.
Fold, staple, photocopy. Ages 13 to 18, paper and the risograph provided. Weekly from here on.
Needles, hooks and a big pot of tea. Beginners welcome, spare yarn on the trolley.
Ten thousand bricks, one table, a bridge to build across the whole children's library by three o'clock.
Phones, passwords, council forms, video calls with grandchildren. Twenty minutes each, no booking.
Screened on the hall's new projector with the curtains drawn. Doors at seven, cafe open until eight.
Bring saved seed in a labelled envelope, take home something you have never grown. Launches our seed library for good.
Tutors from Halden College on hand every Tuesday until 7 pm. Snacks, laptops and printing on us.
Willow and tissue paper lanterns for the Saturday walk. All ages, younger children with an adult.
A lantern walk from the forecourt to Mill Park and back, then readings by candlelight in the reading room. Ages 8 and up.
Nothing in this category yet this month. Check back, the programme grows every week.
Every event is free. Where a place needs booking, the front desk or the events line on 0400 220 114 will hold one for you. November's programme is published on 20 October.
Book at the desk from 3 October →Designed by Orme and Keel Architects inside the shell of the 1911 tram depot. The sawtooth roof and the iron columns stayed; everything under them is new.
One card works at every Halden library, on the mobile library, and for ebooks, audiobooks and newspapers at home. There are no joining fees and, since 2022, no late fines at all.
A letter, a bill, a bank card, a phone with your address on it. Anything reasonable does.
Renew online up to five times as long as nobody else is waiting. Return to any branch, or the chute.
A parent or carer signs once. Children's cards never carry charges, even for a lost picture book.
A temporary card gives you two items and full computer access while you settle in.
14 Larkspur Street, Halden 4021On the corner of Larkspur Street and Depot Lane, opposite Mill Park. The entrance is on Larkspur Street, with a second door from the park after dark.
Line 2 and Line 5 to Halden Central, two minutes on foot along Depot Lane.
Trams run until 12:40 am on late nights.Routes 14, 27 and 41 stop outside the front door at the Larkspur Street stop.
The 14 runs every eight minutes until midnight.Forty stands on the forecourt, covered, lit and in view of the desk.
A pump and a repair stand are fixed by the door.Six blue badge bays on Depot Lane. Mill Park car park is 300 metres away, free after 6 pm.
No general parking on Larkspur Street itself.Step-free from every entrance, with a lift to each floor and the roof garden.
Changing places toilet on the ground floor.