Ilkley Library
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Ilkley is a town with strong ties to literary art. Their literature festival attracts hundreds of avid readers and occasional book buyers alike. At the heart of this culture of valuing the written word is Ilkley Library. Their passion for bringing as much depth and variety as possible in the literature they bring to the public is a testament to the friendly staff who run the Library.
Ilkley Library often hosts events. These include poetry or book readings, Q&A sessions with authors as well as talks on new publications. For the budding writers in the audience the Library has previously run workshops with writers, allowing those who are new to the artform to develop their craft.
Nearly 3000 people ordering and collecting books
Since the pandemic, Ilkley Library has joined together with other Bradford district libraries to supply a hugely successful ‘order and collect’ book service. This initiative allows people to order books from the Library by phone, which are then picked up at an agreed time slot. The scheme was so popular they had nearly 3000 people ordering and collecting books within the first few weeks.
Spend a relaxed afternoon exploring the Library’s large fiction, non-fiction and children’s sections. The Library building is attached to Ilkley Town Hall. Both are now Grade II listed and have been at the heart of Ilkley since the first stone was laid in 1906. You can see the original stonework on the front entrance which is indicative of the prominent place the Library has held within the community for centuries.
