I can still see Miss Parker’s expression the day she first said it. She leaned across her desk, a faint smile playing on her lips, and declared: “The only way you can learn to write well is to read – a lot.”

At the time, I was a gawky teenager who thought I knew more about life than I really did. Her words didn’t strike me as profound immediately. But they clung to me. She wasn’t talking about reading a book here and there. She meant throwing yourself into it, filling your head with the rhythm of language until sentences began to feel like music.

I went home that afternoon and pulled a battered paperback off my mum’s shelf. It was Dickens – far too long and complicated for a fourteen-year-old who’d rather have been out with mates. But I stuck with it. Somewhere in those pages, I understood what Miss Parker meant. Reading wasn’t homework. It was training. It was discovery. It was learning how voices worked on paper.

Those early lessons shaped me. They shaped the way I see words and the way I see the world. That’s why the reopening of Muswell Hill Library feels so personal. Because it’s not just a building reopening its doors. For me, it’s like a teacher’s voice calling me back to where it all began.

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My First Visits: High-School Library Rituals

The first time I stepped into Muswell Hill Library on Queens Avenue, I didn’t quite know what to expect. The outside looked a little austere to a teenager more interested in trainers and football. But inside, I was met by a hush that felt both strange and comforting. The smell of old books mixed with the faint tang of polish on wooden floors.

I remember clutching my school bag nervously and wandering between the shelves. Titles jumped out like strangers at a party. I didn’t know which ones to trust. Eventually, I picked something small, a thin collection of short stories. I sat down in a corner chair, the kind with arms worn smooth by years of elbows, and started reading. Within minutes, I was somewhere else.

What began as a cautious experiment soon became a ritual. Every month, often on a Friday after school, I would take the bus up, slip inside the library, and find my corner. I’d alternate between novels and poetry, sometimes guided by whatever Miss Parker had recommended that week. Sometimes I’d just wander the shelves and grab something that looked intriguing.

Those afternoons gave me more than entertainment. They gave me calm. Life as a teenager can feel chaotic – exams, friendships, awkwardness. The library offered stillness. It wasn’t silence exactly; there was always a faint rustle of pages turning, the soft cough of someone shifting in a chair. But it was a steady hum, the sound of people absorbed in something bigger than themselves.

Over time, the library visits stopped feeling like a choice. They became part of who I was. I’d count down the days until I could go back, and the moment I settled into that chair with a book, I’d feel the weight of the week slide off me. Even today, when I walk into any library, my shoulders instinctively relax. That habit was born in Muswell Hill.

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Why Muswell Hill Library Mattered to Our Community

Muswell Hill Library has always been more than a collection of shelves. For our community, it’s a meeting place, a safe haven, and in many ways, a lifeline.

I’ve seen the way young parents bring toddlers in for story time. Little ones sit cross-legged, wide-eyed, listening as a librarian’s voice carries them into magical worlds. For those parents, it’s not only about books. It’s about building a routine, finding a pocket of peace, and connecting with other families.

I’ve watched teenagers crowd around the study tables during exam season, the kind of quiet determination in their eyes that you rarely see in classrooms. The library gave them space away from noisy homes, away from distractions, where revision felt less of a lonely task.

And then there are the older residents. Some come for the books, yes, but many come for the company. I’ve chatted with pensioners who admitted that their weekly library visit was the highlight of their week. They would check out a novel, perhaps, but more than anything, they enjoyed the chance to talk to staff, to see familiar faces, to feel part of something.

When Muswell Hill Library closed in 2023, I felt the gap immediately. I thought it was just me missing the ritual of dropping in. But as the months passed, I heard more and more voices echo the same feeling. Parents struggled to find suitable spaces for their kids. Students missed the dedicated desks and calm atmosphere. Older neighbours confessed they felt lonelier. A community can lose many things, but when it loses a library, it loses a quiet anchor.

That’s why the reopening matters so much. It’s not only about books returning to shelves. It’s about people returning to each other.

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Refurbishment and New Opening Hours: What’s New

After more than two years of waiting, Muswell Hill Library is finally reopening on Monday 29 September 2025. The closure has been long, but it wasn’t wasted time. The building has been carefully refurbished, with changes designed to make it fit for today and the future.

The most obvious improvement is the reconfigured floor plan. Anyone who remembers the old layout knows that, while charming, it could feel a little cramped and confusing. The new design makes better use of space, guiding visitors more naturally between sections. It’s still the same beloved library, but with a flow that feels welcoming and practical.

The interior has been redecorated from top to bottom. New lighting creates warmth without glare, perfect for reading without strain. The furniture has been updated too, mixing comfort with durability. It’s no longer just a place to perch quickly – it’s somewhere to sit for hours if you wish, lost in a novel or scribbling notes for a project.

Accessibility has been at the heart of the changes. For the first time, the library now has a lift, ensuring that everyone can move freely between floors. There’s also a brand-new accessible toilet. These details matter. They mean no one is excluded. They turn the library into a space that truly belongs to everyone.

One of the most exciting features is the dedicated area for young people to study and learn. For students in Muswell Hill, this is a game-changer. It’s a clear message that their education and wellbeing matter, that they deserve their own space to grow.

The reopening also introduces new opening hours. Muswell Hill Library will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 in the morning until 6 in the evening, and on Saturdays from 10 to 5. It will close on Thursdays and Sundays, which strikes a sensible balance between accessibility and practicality. For the first time since the pandemic, all nine of Haringey’s libraries will now operate on permanent, synchronised schedules. That gives us certainty – we know when our libraries are open, and we can plan around them.

These refurbishments and changes are not just cosmetic. They breathe new life into the building. They show commitment from the council, but more importantly, they show commitment to us, the residents. After years of absence, Muswell Hill Library is coming back stronger, brighter, and more welcoming than before.

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Closing Thoughts: A Homecoming in Pages and Walls

When I picture the reopening, I imagine walking up Queens Avenue on a crisp autumn morning. The Tudor-style façade comes into view, familiar yet freshly alive. I push open the doors, step into the new interior, and take that first deep breath of library air – paper, polish, possibility.

I’ll head straight to the reading area, perhaps out of habit. I’ll choose a book almost at random, let my fingers run along the spines until something calls to me. Then I’ll settle into one of the new chairs, notice the softness of the light, and smile. Because I’ll be home again.

The library’s return isn’t just about restoring what we lost. It’s about renewing a tradition. It’s about giving my children, and all the children of Muswell Hill, the chance to sit in a quiet corner and fall in love with reading, just as I did. It’s about reminding us that in a borough full of noise, traffic, and deadlines, there remains a space for calm reflection.

Miss Parker’s words still echo in my head. To write well, you must read. She was right. And for me, reading has always meant Muswell Hill Library. Its re-opening is more than good news – it’s a homecoming for an entire community.

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