Northfield Library

This photograph from 1967 shows children reading books in Northfield Library, Aberdeen.

Northfield Library opened in October 1955 as part of a plan formulated by the Library Committee to extend the provision of branch libraries into new housing areas.

In January 1950, building began on the Northfield estate, the first major housing development in post war Aberdeen. By June 1952, 800 families had moved to the area and were served by the mobile library which made evening visits to Marchburn Drive and Deansloch Terrace. These sites were very busy with over 9,000 books issued and people often queued to use the service.

At a meeting of the Public Library Committee in January 1953 it was agreed to ask Aberdeen Corporation to erect a library building on a site in Northfield.

The construction of a new branch library began in the autumn of 1954. On 12th October 1955, the G. M. Fraser Branch (named in memory of the late City Librarian) was officially opened on Byron Square by Mr. Thomas Johnston, former Scottish Secretary.

The success and popularity of Northfield Library inspired the committee to open a similar unit on the adjacent housing estate of Mastrick. The first section of the new Mastrick Branch Library opened on Greenfern Road on 18th October 1957, with the second section opening in 1961.

Northfield