Campaigners hope a temporary replacement for Barham Park Library will help “keep community spirit alive”.

Barham Park Library, which was open for 60 years in Harrow Road, was one of six closed by Brent Council last year.

Other libraries affected by the decision were in Preston, Tokyngton, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise and Neasden.

It sparked a year-long legal battle by Brent Save Our Six libraries (SOS), but last October the High Court ruled they could not be saved.

A new pop-up library, which will be open on Saturdays at Barham Park School in Danethorope Road, has been set up as a temporary replacement.

Campaign supporter Councillor Paul Lorber said he hoped the temporary library would help children to continue reading despite the closures.

He said: “We were all devastated when the library was closed and we feel the council has turned its back on us about the situation.

“The younger generation are the losers in all this, because reading is so important to their education.

“In the meantime, we hope this temporary library will help keep community spirit alive, because it’s such a shame to have lost such an integral part of our community after 60 years.”

Francis Henry, who lives in Compton Avenue, has been an avid campaigner for Barham Library, because he said it helped him overcome his dyslexia.

The 47-year-old said: “We are determined to get our library back, but in the meantime this is the next best thing.

“Barham School was kind enough to offer us space there and we will be using that every Saturday until a more permanent solution can be found.”

He added that he hoped the pop-up library would help students as the exam season approaches.

The pop-up library will open this Saturday, in the old Nursery building next to Barham Primary School, in Danethorpe Road. It will be open every Saturday from 10.30am until 2.30pm.

A statement from Brent Council said that the library transformation program will eventually result in all six remaining council libraries having more books, DVDs and better IT equipment.

It added: “Already the libraries are open seven days a week and Ealing Road library has just been refurbished.”

To donate books, CDs and DVDs, email barhamlibrary@hotmail.co.uk.