A library activist has said the future is bright for a newly opened community library.

The Harrow Green Community Library, in Leytonstone’s Epicentre facility, West Street, opened to the public on Saturday with people dropping by to congratulate the volunteer team, borrow books and look around.

The idea of a community library in the area was first mooted in December 2011 and now books are finally going out the doors to be enjoyed by keen bookworms.

Danny Asmoah, library activist, said: “The future is bright, it looks like we’ve filled a niche in the local community.

“The library is a hub that’s beginning to look like more of a meeting place.”

Mr Asmoah said traffic to the library was steady and that they registered about 15 new library card holders.

He added that the large foyer in front of the library draws people in who would usually just pass by.

The library was able to enjoy longer than usual opening hours, as they work around the Epicentre’s opening and closing times, but Saturday saw a function in the building that kept people coming in.

One issue remains for the library’s staff, however. They have been running a manual system due to there being no internet access.

Asmoah said having internet access would make their work a lot easier for the group of core volunteers who have been putting in regular hours to help out, including a published author and a librarian.

He also said more volunteers would be helpful.

Sections in the library include children’s fiction, teenage fiction, general fiction, autobiography, philosophy and religion.