Croxley Green Library
BEST FOR
Ages 0-12
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Croxley Green
What it’s like
Free to walk into, with Baby Rhyme Time, LEGO clubs for five to elevens and a Thursday you can only get in by PIN.
Baby Rhyme Time is the bit to plan your week around: half an hour of songs and rhymes, free, and the site says places are limited, with some libraries asking you to book ahead. Storytime takes the pre-school crowd with interactive stories and no booking at all, so you can turn up on the day. LEGO sessions are aimed at five to eleven year olds, and Page One workshops suit the eight to twelve end if you've got a child who'd rather make something than sit and listen. There's also a Zoolab session with rangers, which is the one my imaginary kids would nag about, though it's not a weekly fixture.
The odd thing about this library is the hours. Thursday is unstaffed from 7am to 8pm, Open+ only, which means you scan your membership card and punch a PIN into the reader at the door to get in. You have to sign up in person at the library before that works, so don't rock up on a Thursday morning expecting to be let in on the spot. Monday to Wednesday and Friday the place is properly staffed, with Monday not opening until 2pm, and Saturday shuts at 1pm. Closed Sundays and every bank holiday, which catches people out at half term.
Cost-wise there's nothing to pay to come in and borrow. Computers are the thing that bites: members get two hours free, non-members pay £3 for half an hour. Photocopying is 20p a sheet, which is fine until you're printing a school project. If you want the room for a birthday or a club, it's £11 to £27.50 an hour for a space that takes 14 people with three tables and WiFi.
A visit is an easy hour, longer if there's a session on. There's a letterbox for returns when the building's shut, dealt with the next open day, which saves a trip. Disabled bays and public parking are nearby, and the building is wheelchair accessible.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 0 to 5 in the week; LEGO and Page One suit 5 to 12
- Parking
- Public parking nearby, with disabled bays
- Worth knowing
- Members get 2 hours free computer use
- Thursday is Open+ only, so sign up in person before you plan a visit that day
- Monday doesn't open until 2pm and Saturday shuts at 1pm
- A library card gets you two hours free on the computers instead of paying £3 for half an hour
- Printing is 20p a sheet, worth knowing before a school project run
Plan your visit
Does it cost anything to go in?
No, entry and borrowing are free. The charges are for extra bits like room hire, printing and computer use.
How much is a computer?
Members get two hours free. If you're not a member it's £3 for 30 minutes, so joining first is the cheaper way round.
Do we need to book for Baby Rhyme Time?
The site says places are limited and some libraries want you booked in beforehand, so it's worth sorting before you travel. Storytime needs no booking at all.
What happens on a Thursday?
The library is unstaffed all day, 7am to 8pm, and Open+ self-service only. You need to have signed up at the library first, then you scan your card and enter a PIN at the door.
Can we get in before it opens properly?
Open+ runs 7am to 9.30am on Monday, Friday and Saturday. Same rules: sign up in person, then use your card and PIN.
What ages are the children's sessions for?
Babies and toddlers for Rhyme Time, pre-schoolers for Storytime, LEGO for five to eleven year olds and Page One for eight to twelve.
Can we return books when it's closed?
There's a letterbox for out-of-hours returns and they're dealt with on the next open day.
Can you hire a room?
There's a room for 14 people with three tables, disabled access and free WiFi, at £11 to £27.50 an hour.
When is it shut?
Sundays and all bank holidays. Saturday closes at 1pm and Monday doesn't open until 2pm.
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