East Finchley Library

East Finchley Library is a public library built in 1938, with minor alterations made in the later 20th century. It was designed by Percival T. Harrison, the Borough architect and engineer, with assistance from C.M. Bond for the Borough of Finchley. The building is constructed of red and brown brick in Flemish bond, with a Portland stone plinth, parapets, and dressings. It has hipped sand-faced tile roofs, wrought iron balconies, and steel frame windows by Rowe Bros. The building is in a Neo-Georgian style, with a lower range behind the main structure.

The main range, facing the High Road, is arranged with reading rooms flanking a hall that leads to a central, circular inner hall. From this hall radiates a quadrant plan lending library, along with lower staff rooms and offices.

The High Road elevation is symmetrical, with three window bays. Side and first-floor windows are full height and feature concrete balconies with scrolled metal balustrades. Windows are small-pane with hoppers and margin lights, featuring bronze, interlinked curved and vertical mullions. The central bay is framed in rusticated stone, with a tall, advanced stepped and moulded architrave containing a recessed wood door and scrolled overlight. Above the door is a prominent stone panel displaying the arms of the former Borough of Finchley, with the motto "REGNANT QUI SERVIUNT," blending into a flat stone frieze inscribed with "BOROUGH OF BARNET (formerly Finchley) PUBLIC LIBRARY.” The stone frieze and parapet extend to the sides; the left return has a full-height curved bay with a similar balcony to the first-floor window, and the right has an additional bay with a window under a hipped roof. The rear curved wall of the lending library features horizontal clerestory windows with soldier course lintels. A lower first-floor range to the rear incorporates similar brick detailing and a chimney.

Inside, many original fittings remain, including joinery made of Indian Silver Greywood. The staircase has elaborately scrolled metal balusters matching those on the balconies, a brass handrail, and brass finials in the shape of handles on the newels. A curved glass and timber screen separates the inner hall from the lending library. Original wood counters and bookshelves are present, with the lower shelves in the lending and children’s rooms tilted upwards. The lending library has a saucer dome ceiling with three circular roof lights. A lecture hall on the first floor includes a stage.

The Borough of Finchley (later absorbed into Barnet) adopted the Public Libraries Act in May 1930, and this was the borough's third library.