Libraries/Community Groups

Chess in your Library 

If your Library is interested, we would love to help so please get in touch here.

Join CSC Libraries and Community Groups. 

Libraries - How We Can Help

CSC believe that chess and libraries are an excellent fit. Chess has a huge number of books written about it - a recent search of Amazon produced over 19,000 results. By running a regular chess club at your library you would be providing a great service to your community.

We have helped a number of libraries set up and run chess clubs - and we are keen to help more.

We can provide equipment and help you find someone to run it. We run regular training courses on teaching chess which would equip someone with the skills to run a club. Places on the courses would be free to library staff and volunteers and we would provide support. 

We will help process a DBS check for the person running the club. Where Covid-19 restrictions prevent a club taking place onsite in the library, CSC would be happy to advise on ways in which activities might continue online and can provide ChessKid accounts for that purpose.

We would also be very happy to provide our curriculum for you to stock in your catalogue and workbooks for the children to use. 

Here are some books ​and software​ we recommend:

Parents/teachers
The Right Way to Teach Chess to Kids - Richard James

Children
Checkmate - Kasparov Chess for Kids - Richard James
Ten Ways to Succeed Series (Openings/Middlegames/Endgames/Puzzles) - Onions and Regis ​
Winning Chess Series - Jeff ​ Coakley

ChessKid – online platform suitable for children of primary school age.

All Ages
Usborne Complete Guide to Chess - Watson & Burgess

Below are useful contact details for Libraries and Community Centres helping with chess or have their own chess clubs.

Battersea Library - Fridays, 4.00-5.00pm
Contact: Paul Stokes [email protected] 

Battersea Park Library - Tuesdays, 3.30-5.00pm
Contact: Paul Stokes [email protected]

Becton Globe Library, Newham
1 Kingsford Way, London E6 5JQ
Meets Tuesday afternoons 15:45-17:15
Contact: [email protected]

Billingham Library
Billingham Library & Customer Service Centre,
Kingsway, Billingham TS23 2LN
Saturdays 10am-12pm
01642 528084

Birmingham Library
Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2ND
The chess club meets in the Children’s Library Meeting Room (Middle Earth).
Saturdays, 14.00-15.00 (term time only)
Contact: Linda Monk [email protected]

Website: www.libraryofbirmingham.com

Blaydon Library, Wesley Court, Gateshead, NE21 5BT
Thursdays 17.00
Contact: Lynne Corder [email protected]
Tel: 0191 4336201

Coventry Central Library - For adults and children
Smithford Way, Coventry, CV1 1FY
Meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 - 4pm.
Contact: Nigel Benton - 02476 832314 - [email protected]
Nigel works part-time so if a quick response is required please email: [email protected]

Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library - For primary school children ages 7 to 11
Earlsdon Avenue North, Earlsdon, Coventry, CV5 6FZ
Thursday 3:30 to 4:30
Contact: Jenny Danielson - [email protected]

Egham Library - Saturdays 10.30-12pm
The group is for juniors, age 7-11 years old. On Saturdays 10-11am (Term time only). 
[email protected]

Enfield Island Village Library

Enfield Town Library
Enfield Town Library, 66 Church Street, Enfield EN2 6AX
Fortnightly on Saturdays - 2-3pm (for ages 7-12) and 3-4pm (for ages 13-17)
Limited spaces available so please speak to a member of staff or call 0208 379 8341 to reserve a place.

Gateshead Central Library
Prince Consort Road
Gateshead, NE8 4LN
Contact: Kath Milne [email protected] 
Tel: 0191 4338410

Grays Library - Saturdays 10:00 to 12:00 - first hour for youngsters only.
Contact: Andrew Offord [email protected]

Green Street Library
337-341 Green Street, Upton Park, London E13 9AR.
Tel: 020 3373 0857
Wednesdays 17.30-19.30

Ingleby Barwick Library
Blair Avenue, Stockton-On-Tees TS17 5BL
Tel: 01642 528528
Fridays 4pm-6pm

John Jackson Library, Enfield

Keats Community Library
10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RN
Tel: 0207 431 1266
Email: [email protected]
Classes held every fortnight on Saturdays - ages 6-12.
Website: www.keatscommunitylibrary.org,uk
KCL is a volunteer run library. We ask for a £3 per child voluntary contribution to our costs. The classes are held fortnightly on Saturdays from 12-1 for advanced beginners, and 1-2pm for beginners, taught by Phil Makepeace.

Kenton Library
Kenton Lane, HA3 8UJ
Saturday (first weekend month) 2.30 - 3.30pm
Contact: Manoharan Dilukshan [email protected] 

North Harrow Library
Pinner Road, HA1 4HN
Contact: Nevil Chan [email protected]

Lancaster Library
Market Square, Lancaster,
Lancashire, LA1 1HY
Tuesday afternoons anytime between 3pm-7pm (starts 27 Jan 2015)
Saturdays after 12 noon, starting 31 Jan 2015 (starts 31 Jan 2015)
Contact: Gary Hutchinson [email protected]

Leominster Library

Exhibition Room, Thursdays, 15.30 onwards led by Kalvin Haley. 01568 750114 / 07709 0261206

Manchester Central Library - Tuesdays, 5pm to 7pm
St. Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD
Contact: [email protected]

Moor Allerton Community Hub and Library
King Lane, Leeds, LS17 5NY
The club meets fortnightly on Wednesdays from 3.30 – 5pm (term- time only)
Phone: 0113 3781881
Email: [email protected]

Nantwich Library - The club runs every fortnight on Tuesday evenings between 5.30 - 6.30pm.
Contact: [email protected]

Newcastle City Library
33 New Bridge Street West,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AX
'Chess for All' Club meets every Saturday, 12 noon-2.00pm

Newham - East Ham Library - Mondays & Thursdays 5.30-7.30pm.
Newham - Green Street Library - Wednesdays 5.30-7.30pm.
Newham - Gate Library Tuesdays 5.30-7.30pm.
Contact: James Robinson

North Harrow Library
Ordnance Road Library, Enfield

Pancras Square Library
Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG
Wednesdays 5.15-6.45pm. Starts 17th March 2023.

Pimlico Library Chess Club
Lupus Street, London, SW1V 3AT
Mondays 6.00-8.00pm. All ages and abilities welcome.

Ponders End Library, Enfield
Primrose Hill Community Library
Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:30pm

Primrose Hill Community Library Sharpleshall Street NW1 8YN
Contact: Alan Bruce - 07830107477

Richmond Relaxed Chess Club (Yorkshire)
Castle Tavern, 3 Market Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4HU
Held on Thursday evenings. Contact: [email protected]

Sprowston Library
Recreation Ground Road,
Norwich, NR7 8EW
Contact: Claire Sharland, Library Manager
[email protected] 
Tel: 07785 400032

Stanmore Library'Community Chess'
Tuesdays, 3.30pm - 5.45pm
Contact: John Ryan 07767 247153 or [email protected]

Stockton Central Library
Church Road, Stockton-On-Tees TS18 1TU
Saturdays 1pm-3pm
01642526522

Stratford Library Chess Club
Thursdays, 5.30-7.30pm
All levels of ability welcome - No booking necessary
Contact: John Illingworth

Streatham Library - Tuesdays, 4.30-7.30 (5.00-7.30 until 21 June 2016)
Everyone welcome and there's nothing to pay. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult
Contact: Richard Tillett [email protected]
For further information visit our website.

ThimbleMill Library, Smethwick
The club runs on Wednesdays 4.00-5.30pm. Contact Leroy Douglas [email protected].
Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ.

Thornaby Central Library
Wrightson House, Stockton On Tees TS17 9FD
Saturdays 10am-12pm
01642528117

Thornton
The club runs on Wednesdays 5pm to 6:30pm. Contact: [email protected]
Thornton Community Centre, Market Street, Thornton, BD13 3HW

Ulverston Library, Cumbria

The club runs on Tuesdays 3.15-4.15pm. Contact Peter Hanks - [email protected].

Kings Road, Ulverston LA12 OBT

Victoria Library, London SW1.
160 Buckingham Palace Rd,
London SW1W 9UD. Nearest tube: Victoria
Start date: Wednesday 02 Nov or 09 Nov (depending when the tutor can start)
Times: 1700-1830 hrs then every Wednesday same time.
Contact: Imaan J. Williams [email protected] for details.
Mob: 07505174522

Welwyn Garden City Library - Chess Attack Chess Club
Wednesday evenings throughout the year, 5.30-6.30pm in the Children's Section.
Contact: Michael Flatt [email protected]

Wibsey 

And here are libraries where we have supported chess.