Tag: library

Old Library sees refurbishment works underway

The Old Library West Norwood which currently delivers the West Norwood library service, has temporarily closed from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 26th October whilst Rathbone carries out some refurbishing works.

Drop boxes are available on site for returned items which will be collected on a daily basis by library service couriers and discharged at other libraries.

Black History Month and other planned events at the library has been moved to other libraries including the Upper Norwood Library. Users and members of the public have been informed via libraries website, leaflets and social media.

Any concerns or enquiries please contact us and we’ll talk with library services. 

The Future of Cultural Services in Lambeth

The council is launching a consultation on the future of cultural services in Lambeth. This sets out a vision for how we can deliver library services sustainably, in the face of huge cuts to our funding from the national government.

In
2012 we talked to residents about libraries. They challenged us on how we could provide free access to
books wider than ever before. They challenged us to use self serve
technology, volunteers and community spaces to create new places in the
heart of our neighbourhoods to borrow books and embrace reading.

Lambeth Council is now launching a consultation which shares our
vision for how we might deliver this. Please get involved, feedback your ideas and tell us what you think.

Our vision is –

  • 5 town centre libraries where we’ll work with volunteers to extend opening hours
  • those town centre libraries supporting a wider Network of community
    lending libraries in community settings – like the successful one in
    Streatham Vale.
  • community libraries like Carnegie potentially becoming community hubs – including community library provision.

This vision isn’t new – it’s the continuation of a conversation we’ve
been having for a long time. But the pace needs to pick up to achieve the budget
reductions that are now necessary.

We’ll have to make some tough decisions too. Some smaller libraries
simply won’t be able to continue. In West Norwood, we are lucky – the council and Picturehouse have exchanged contracts to develop Nettlefold Hall into a refurbished library and a new cinema for our community. There are going to be lots of opportunities to have your say on what our library will look like – watch this space!

For further information, take a look at Lambeth Labour’s blog here

A new cinema in West Norwood moved a step closer this week as contracts were exchanged between Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd and Lambeth Council.

Picturehouse will lease the old Nettlefold Hall in Norwood High Street and turn it into a four-screen cinema, with bar and café.

As part of the deal, West Norwood Library will also be improved with a £1.125m investment.

Cllr Jane Edbrooke, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We know this agreement has been a long time coming but I’m delighted to announce that Picturehouse are coming to West Norwood.

“The area is seeing some really positive changes with the brand new West Norwood Health & Leisure Centre opening in the summer, West Norwood Feast happening every month and now a new cinema and refurbished library opening by 2017.

“West Norwood is fast becoming yet another vibrant Lambeth town centre that people will thoroughly enjoy visiting.”

Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of Picturehouse, said: “This is the sort of building that we get very excited about – modernising and reinventing a place that sits at the heart of its community.

“We hope that the support the project enjoys will mean that we can very soon deliver a great new facility for West Norwood”.

Following the signing of the Agreement to Lease arrangement, there will now be a period of around 12 weeks to complete costings and develop designs ready for a full public consultation, which will begin early next year.

Picturehouse already run the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton and the Clapham Picturehouse, as well as other venue across London. They will spend over £2m on the Nettlefold Hall site.

In recent years, Lambeth council has refurbished Brixton and Streatham Tate libraries and built a brand new library in Clapham.

Nettlefold Library – update

The process of getting the Library cleaned up in preparation for rebuilding works has been slowed down by squatters. It is very disappointing that they were able to gain access and although they have gone, they made so much mess that the asbestos decontamination is now much more complicated. This will not only delay the planning application but increase the size of the works, which will now have to go out to competitive tender.

Nevertheless the negotiations are still going ahead, a lease is being drawn up between Lambeth and the cinema company and some precious archives have been removed from the basement. All the Norwood councillors continue to press for progress. The Steering Group meets again in September.