CSC in Libraries
Libraries make excellent settings for community chess clubs. They can provide much needed space for both children and adults of all backgrounds to learn and enjoy an intellectual pursuit. At the same time, the club can attract visitors to the library who might not otherwise make use of their services.
CSC has supported several hundred libraries around the country in establishing community chess clubs. Many of these appear on our Library Directory (see below). We tend to help libraries in several ways:
Providing free chess sets and other equipment
Training volunteers to run chess sessions
Offering free access to our curriculum and other learning resources
Supplying a tutor to run library chess sessions (subject to local funding)
Clubs in libraries typically last two hours and are suitable for players of all abilities, including complete beginners. All CSC clubs are free are the point of delivery.
If you work for a library and would like to start a library chess club, please complete our form located here. If you are a library user and would like to see chess offered at your local library then please contact them directly and point them towards this page on our website. If you have any questions about chess in libraries please contact our Libraries Coordinator, Dan Staples - dan@chessinschools.co.uk.
Library Directory
Below are useful contact details for libraries with their own chess clubs. Many of these have been supported with sets, equipment, and volunteers from CSC. Please note: all CSC-supported library chess clubs are free of charge. While every effort is made to keep this information up to date, we recommending contacting the library before attending to confirm the club is still taking place at the stated time.
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Battersea Library - Children's Chess Club
Saturdays, 13:00 - 14:30
265 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1JB
For further information, please call 020 7223 2334Battersea Park Library
Tuesdays, 15:30 - 17:00
Contact: Paul Stokes - paul.stokes858@btinternet.comBecton Globe Library
Tuesdays, 15:45 - 17:15
1 Kingsford Way, London E6 5JQ
Contact: russtaylor555@aol.comCarnegie Library
Saturdays, 14:00 - 16:30
188 Herne Hill Road, London SE24 0AG
0207 9266050Church Street Library
Thursdays, 16:00 - 17:00
67 Church Street, London, NW8 8EU
Telephone: 020 7641 1220
Email: churchstreetlibrary@westminster.gov.ukGreen Street Library
Wednesdays, 17:30 - 19:30
337-341 Green Street, Upton Park, London E13 9AR
Tel: 020 3373 0857Higham Hill Library
Fridays, 15:30 - 17:00 (term time)
North Countess Rd, London, E17 5HSKensal Rise Library
Wednesdays, 19:00 - 21:00 (starting from May 15, 2024)
Bathurst Gardens, London NW10 5EUKeats Community Library
Every fortnight on Saturdays
Ages 6-12: 12:00 - 13:00 (advanced beginners)
Ages 6-12: 13:00 - 14:00 (beginners)
10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RN
Tel: 0207 431 1266
Email: keatscommunitylibrary@gmail.com
Website: keatscommunitylibrary.org.ukKenton Library
First weekend of the month, 14:30 - 15:30
Kenton Lane, HA3 8UJ
Contact: Manoharan Dilukshan - manoharan.dilukshan@harrowchessclub.org.ukNorth Harrow Library
Pinner Road, HA1 4HN
Contact: Nevil Chan - nevil@harrowchessclub.org.ukPaddington Library
Sundays - 12pm to 3pm (all ages welcome)
Porchester Road, London W2 5DU
Tel: 020 7641 4490
Email: ptraldi@westminster.gov.ukPancras Square Library
Wednesdays, 17:15 - 18:45 (Starts March 17, 2023)
Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AGPimlico Library Chess Club
Fridays, 17:00 - 18:00 (Children only)
Lupus Street, London, SW1V 3AT
Contact: Kennan Kesterson - kennanakirak@gmail.comStreatham Library
Tuesdays, 16:30 - 19:30 (5.00-7.30 until June 21, 2016)
Contact: Richard Tillett - tillett.richard@gmail.comVictoria Library
Wednesdays, 17:00 - 18:30
160 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9UD
Contact: Imaan J. Williams - nwht@talktalk.net
Mob: 07505174522York Gardens Library - Junior Chess Club
Fridays, 15:45 - 17:00
34 Lavender Road, London, SW11 2UG
Tel: 020 8871 7471 -
Newcastle City Library
Saturdays, 12:00 - 14:00
33 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AX
'Chess for All' ClubHartlepool Library
Last Saturday of every month, 10:30 - 11:30
Community Hub South, Wynyard Road, Hartlepool, TS25 3LQNorth Harrow Library
Ordnance Road Library, EnfieldRichmond Relaxed Chess Club
Thursday evenings
Castle Tavern, 3 Market Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4HU
Contact: milestempletonboxing@gmail.comWibsey Library
Thursdays, 17:00 - 18:30
North Road, BD6 1TR
Contact: David Bar - davidbar@blueyonder.co.ukYork Explore Library
Sundays, 14:00 - 15:15 (Juniors only, starting January 8, 2023)
Library Square, Museum St, York YO1 7DS
Contact: Peter Cloudsdale - cloudsdale_c@hotmail.co.uk
First Saturday of every month (Adults & Juniors): 10:00 - 12:00
Contact: Dan Staples - dan@chessinschools.co.uk
Harrogate Library
Victoria Avenue, Harrogate
HG1 1EG
Contact: jane.trigoso@northyorks.gov.uk -
Billingham Library
Saturdays, 10:00 - 12:00
Kingsway, Billingham TS23 2LN
Tel: 01642 528084Blaydon Library
Thursdays, 17:00
Wesley Court, Gateshead, NE21 5BT
Contact: Lynne Corder - lynnecorder@gateshead.gov.uk
Tel: 0191 4336201Bolton (Thornton)
Wednesdays, 17:00 - 18:30
Thornton Community Centre, Market Street, Thornton, BD13 3HW
Contact: David Bar - davidbar@blueyonder.co.ukWigan Library Chess Club
Saturdays, 10:00 - 13:00
Wigan Library, entrance via Hewlett Street, WN1 1NH
Email: wigan.library@wigan.gov.uk
Tel: 01942 827621Golborne Library
Fridays, 15:00 - 17:00
Tanners Lane, Golborne, Warrington, WA3 3AW
Tel: 01942 777800Leigh Library
Wednesdays, 13:30 - 15:30 (free drop-in session)
Civic Square, Market Street, Leigh, Greater Manchester, WN7 1EB
Tel: 01942 404404 -
Crowthorne Library
Thursdays, 15:30 - 16:30 (older persons)
162 High Street, Crowthorne, RG45 7AT
Contact: Jon Lloyd - 01344 454000Egham Library
Saturdays, 10:30 - 12:00 (for juniors, ages 7-11)
Egham Library, Egham
Email: egham.library@surreycc.gov.ukHeathfield Library
First Saturday of every month, 10:30 - 11:30
21 High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8LU
Enquiries: 0345 6080196Isle of Wight - Cowes Library
Tuesdays, 14:00 - 17:00
First Saturday of the month, 10:00 - 15:00
Beckford Road, Cowes, PO31 7SG
Tel: 01983 293341Isle of Wight - Ryde Library Chess Club
Wednesdays, 17:00 - 19:00
101 George Street, Ryde, PO33 2JE
Tel: 01983 823825Isle of Wight - Sandown Library Chess Club
Thursdays, 14:30 - 17:00
High Street, Sandown, PO36 8AF
Tel: 01983 402748Isle of Wight - Ventnor Library Chess Club
Wednesdays, 14:00 - 16:00
High Street, Ventnor, PO38 1LZ
Tel: 01983 852039Twickenham Library
Thursdays, 15:30 - 17:45 (ages 7-16)
Garfield Road, Twickenham, TW1 3JT
For more information: Click Here -
Bournemouth Library Chess Club
Saturdays, 10:00 - 12:00
22 The Triangle, Bournemouth, BH2 5RQ
Contact: eric.sachs@btinternet.com -
Chapel-en-le-Frith (Derbyshire) - Rems Café
Alternate Saturdays, 14:00 - 16:00
29 Market Street, Chapel-En-Le-Frith, SK23 0HE
Contact: Claire A White - claireawhite1@outlook.com
Tel: 07403288146Glossop Library
Fortnightly Wednesdays, 13:30 - 15:30 (Adults only)
Talbot Road, Glossop, SK13 7DG
Contact: David Fowler - djfpawnpusher@hotmail.com
Tel: 01457 514654Nottingham (Wollaton Library)
Thursdays, 16:30 - 18:00
Bramcote Lane, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2NA
Contact: Joshua Passey - Tel: 0115 915 2809 -
Acock's Green Library
Mondays, 16:00 - 17:30
Shirley Road, Birmingham, B27 7XH
Tel: 0121 464 1738
Contact: Abby MurphyBleakhouse Library
Term-time Wednesdays, 16:00 - 17:00
Bleakhouse Road, Oldbury, Sandwell
Contact: Riz Ahmed - ChessMateUk@gmail.comCoventry Central Library
Mondays and Wednesdays, 14:00 - 16:00
Smithford Way, Coventry, CV1 1FY
Contact: Nigel Benton - 02476 832314
Email: nigel.benton@coventry.gov.uk
Or central.library@coventry.gov.ukEarlsdon Carnegie Community Library
Thursdays, 15:30 - 16:30
Earlsdon Avenue North, Earlsdon, Coventry, CV5 6FZ
Contact: Jenny Danielson - jennymdanielson@gmail.comThimblemill Library
Wednesdays, 16:00 - 17:30
Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ
Contact: Leroy Douglas - leroi.douglas@gmail.comStoke-on-Trent Libraries Chess Club
City Central Library - Wednesdays 14:00 - 16:00
Tunstall Library - Fridays 14:00 - 16:30
Kidsgrove Library - Saturdays 09:00 - 12:00
Contact: Andrew Crosby - atcrosby@icloud.com
Tel: 01782 787131 -
Abergavenny Library
Saturdays, 10:00 - 12:00
17 Baker Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5AT
Tel: 01873 735980Chepstow Library
Thursdays, 15:30 - 17:00
High Street, Chepstow, NP16 5LH
Tel: 01291 623 772 -
Aylsham Library
First and third Wednesdays of the month, 10:00 - 12:00
7 Hungate St, Aylsham, NR11 6AA
Contact: Jonathan Reeve - 01263 733744
Email: aylshamchessclub@gmail.comNorth Walsham Library
Fridays, 16:15 - 18:00
New Road, North Walsham, NR28 9DE
Contact: Library enquiries - 01692 402482
Email: north.walsham.lib@libraries.norfolk.gov.ukSprowston Library
Contact: Claire Sharland - claire.sharland@norfolk.gov.uk
Tel: 07785 400032
Recreation Ground Road, Norwich, NR7 8EWGrays Library
Saturdays, 10:00 - 12:00 (first hour for youngsters only)
Grays Library, Grays, Essex
Contact: Andrew Offord - offord34@live.co.ukHeathfield Library
First Saturday of every month, 10:30 - 11:30
21 High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8LU
Enquiries: 0345 6080196
