Hatfield Library’s 50th anniversary celebrations

By Alan Davies Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10:15 PM

HATFIELD Library celebrates its 50th anniversary next week with a programme of events.

Library assistants Pauline Brett, Bernie Jones and Andy Forrester

READING is one of life’s great pleasures sometimes taken for granted.

But Hatfield residents have had 50 golden years of a library in the town centre to enjoy.

Hatfield Library, in Queensway, was officially opened on September 19, 1962.

And to celebrate the 50th anniversary, a number of events have been arranged to mark the occasion.

Hatfield library

Kicking off on Tuesday, September 18, the activities begin at 10.30am with Anniversary Baby Rhyme Time for babies and carers with a visit from Bookstar Bear.

Then, in the afternoon, local author Philip Marris will be talking about his book The Ryde Remembered, a history of the Ryde area of Hatfield.

Places are free for this 2.30pm event, but they need to be pre-booked with the library.

The official 50th anniversary celebrations will take place from 10.30am on Wednesday, September 19 with complementary tea, coffee and soft drinks and, of course, the cutting of a cake.

There will also be an opportunity to take part in a fun quiz to find out how much you know or can remember about 1962.

Bookstart Bear pays another visit at 2.30pm for Anniversary Story Time for young children.

The series of events will be rounded off on Thursday, September 20 at 7.15pm by another talk, this time from Katharine McMahon, author of The Crimson Rooms and Season of Light.

Again, places are free but need to be booked in advance with the library.

Throughout September there will be a timeline on display showing fascinating pictures and articles relating to the 50-year history of the library.

Visitors will also find lots of books, both fiction and non-fiction, around the library that were published in and around 1962 – giving a wonderful insight into how covers and illustrations have changed over the last 50 years.

To find out more, ask staff in the library, phone 0300 123 4049 or visit www.hertsdirect.org/libraries