Take a Stand – Protect Our Libraries!

We heard at Lambeth’s Cabinet meeting on Monday 24th February that a 21% cut to Lambeth’s libraries budget is just fine. The Lambeth Council Cabinet expects to impose its will on The Council without debate at the next Council meeting on Wednesday 5th March.

Wednesday 5th March - 6:00 pm

Please come to the Town Hall at 6:00 pm, before that next Council meeting on Wednesday 5th March (the Council meeting starts at 7pm) and let The Councillors know that we are not OK with The Cabinet's £1 million cut to the Lambeth Library budget. (The total library budget is £4.7m and this has barely changed in 40 years.)

Sign the Petition Now

Over 1,200 people have already signed this petition in support of Lambeth Libraries.

Spread the word: No cuts to Lambeth Libraries!

Visit the Campaign website:

savelambethlibraries.uk

On 4 February the City of Sanctuary organisation recognised the work Lambeth Libraries do in supporting refugees, asylum and sanctuary seekers and we were awarded Library of Sanctuary status.

To celebrate the public libraries who go above and beyond to welcome people seeking sanctuary, we have the Libraries of Sanctuary Award.

The key criteria for the awards are:

• Learn: find out what it means to be seeking sanctuary; and be actively involved in awareness raising.
• Embed: take positive action to make welcome and inclusion part of the values of your organisation or community, to support sanctuary seekers and refugees, and to include them in your activities.
• Share your vision and achievements: let others know about the positive contribution refugees make to our society and the benefits of a welcoming culture to everyone.

"This has been something we have been working towards for nearly two years so we had a library service that could support this new part of our community and welcome them to Lambeth." - Susanna Barnes - Head of Lambeth Libraries

The Lambeth Council Cabinet is going to table plans to slash £1 million from the library budget at the next Cabinet Meeting on Monday, 24 February. This is sudden and unexpected and comes without consulting The Lambeth Library Service or even Councillors.

There will be a demonstration outside the Lambeth Town Hall (opposite Windrush Square, in Brixton) and in the Lobby at 5 pm on Monday, 24 February. The meeting starts at 5 pm. Please come to the demonstration to show your support for The Carnegie Library, and all of the ten Lambeth libraries, and let the Council know that the public will not accept destruction of its libraries.

£1 million is almost 25% of the total library budget of £4.2 million, a figure which amazingly has not changed in 40 years. (With inflation this means the budget has already eroded by about two thirds since 1984.) This in the context of the Council's £1.47 billion annual gross expenditure (2023-24).

Please attend the demonstration on Monday, 24 February (5 pm at the Town Hall). Make your voice heard.

Look for news of further developments on this website or in local press, such as Brixton Buzz

Sign the petition.

Wear the T-Shirt.

Join The Friends.

friendsofcarnegie@gmail.com

Our library is a finalist for library of the year!

Library of the Year - The Bookseller.com

Regional & Country Finalists
Proudly sponsored by DK, in association with The Reading Agency

This is a great tribute to the exceptional team of creative and resourceful librarians we have in Lambeth, led by Zoey Dixon MBE at The Carnegie and Susanna Barnes, Head of Lambeth Library Services. We know that The Carnegie Library is one of the things that makes living in Herne Hill very special. It is a priceless public asset.

“The exceptional entries to this year’s Library of the Year award demonstrate the vital role that public libraries play in our communities. Each finalist has shown remarkable innovation in developing projects that not only promote reading but also create meaningful connections and support local needs. From digital literacy initiatives to inclusive community outreach programmes, these libraries have shown extraordinary creativity in adapting their services to reach new audiences while maintaining their core mission of fostering a love of reading. These finalists represent the very best of what modern libraries can achieve, proving that they remain essential, dynamic spaces of learning, creativity and community engagement, with reading at their heart.” – Karen Napier MBE, CEO, The Reading Agency