Liverpool community comes together for reopening of Spellow Library

Spellow Library, which was set alight in August during the 2024 UK riots, recently reopened after the Liverpool community came together to raise over £250,000 for the damages.

In August, books were donated by Queen Camilla, over 150 authors, and a dedicated email account was set up for people to use to offer support or donate books.

The reopening of Spellow Library was marked with a ceremony yesterday (12 December), which included Liverpool poet, Levi Tafari, reciting his poem Celebr8. A letter from Queen Camilla was also read aloud.

Frank Cottrell Boyce, the Waterstones Children’s Laureate, recited a special poem about the Spellow Hub.

Civic leaders, community members, faith representatives and students from Alsop High School and Arnot St Mary CE School attended the reopening of Spellow Community Hub and Library.

Over the last month, Year Nine students from Alsop worked with writers PJ Smith, Claire Beerjeraz and Writing On The Wall on a presentation to celebrate the re-opening of the Spellow community space.

These workshops culminated with a stunning performance about how the significance of libraries goes beyond books.

The students probed what identity and community means to them and spoke out about the importance of diversity. With the help of Alsop reading coordinator, Mrs Aspinall, they interrogated how writing becomes a vehicle that can make people heroes of their own narrative.

Nisha Morley, head of English at Alsop, said the ceremony was ‘a celebration of creativity, learning, and community connection’.

Reading coordinator, Noreen Aspinall, said: “It was empowering to hear our pupils stand on the grounds that were burnt just less than four months before, and show their solidarity.

“The performance was a testament to the boundless creativity and thoughtful insight of these young people. Through their words, they illuminated Spellow, a building filled with more than just books.”