A tailor in Bradford has converted the first floor above his Westgate shop into a community library intended to be "open to absolutely everyone" and to encourage local residents, especially young people, to engage with books.
From shopfront to reading space
Imran Khan, proprietor of IK School of Fine Tailoring, unveiled the Duke of Gloucester Library on Monday, 27 July, creating a modest but purposeful hub above his business. The space — named after the royal who formally opened Mr Khan’s shop the previous year — is designed to be accessible to the neighbourhood and to complement other local literacy efforts.
Mr Khan, who has spoken publicly about living with dyslexia, said he wanted to "give something back to the local community" and to offer an environment that might help raise reading levels and provide a safe place for people to visit.
"The library is open to absolutely everyone," Mr Khan said, adding his hope that the space will help improve reading among youngsters.
Local support and aims
The opening was attended by Chief Sir John Robbins and Bradford West MP Imran Hussain, signalling cross-sector backing for the initiative. Mr Khan told InfoRadar that feedback so far has been encouraging: visitors have described the library as a pleasant and secure environment that brings a smile to people’s faces.
- Location: Duke of Gloucester Library, above IK School of Fine Tailoring, Westgate, Bradford
- Opening: 27 July (launch attended by Chief Sir John Robbins and MP Imran Hussain)
- Purpose: to encourage reading, particularly among young people, and to provide a community space
Why it matters locally
Small, grassroots projects such as this can play an important role in neighbourhood cohesion and in offering opportunities where formal services are limited. By situating the library in a familiar retail setting, the initiative may reach people who do not usually visit conventional libraries or who are hesitant about joining larger institutions.
Mr Khan emphasised that any kind of engagement with books can be valuable — whether reading text, looking at pictures or simply being in a calm setting. That approach may be particularly relevant for families with children and for adults with literacy challenges.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founder | Imran Khan, IK School of Fine Tailoring |
| Name of library | Duke of Gloucester Library |
| Target audience | Everyone, with emphasis on young people |
The library’s organisers say they hope the project will continue to receive local support and to attract visitors from across Bradford. Plans for future activities or opening hours have not been publicly detailed, but Mr Khan has described the venture as his way of contributing to the neighbourhood and supporting learning through informal means.
For residents interested in community efforts to promote literacy, the Duke of Gloucester Library offers a local example of how small-business owners can repurpose space to meet civic needs.
