Change to services at temporary Newington Library from Christmas

23 November 2018

Newington Temporary Library, based in Elephant and Castle, will no longer be available from 5pm on Saturday 22 December as The Artworks, where it is currently situated, bids farewell to the area at the end of the year.

The library has been operating out of the temporary building following the fire at the Walworth Town Hall, which devastated the town hall building and made the library building next to it unusable for a long period.

Now, as The Artworks Elephant was always conceived as a temporary project, the council has been working on finding a new permanent site for Newington Library, which is close to being confirmed. In the meantime Newington’s library services and events will be offered at other Southwark libraries.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, cabinet member for culture, leisure, equalities and communities, said: “Unlike many councils, Southwark is committed to not just preserving existing libraries, but investing in new ones that can offer a modern and up-to-date service for our residents.

“I am very pleased to confirm I will be taking a report to Cabinet early next year to recommend providing a brand new home for the library in Walworth, and we will want to get it up and running as soon as possible to keep any gap in service to a minimum.”

Library members who have taken books out from Newington will be able to return them to any of the other libraries in Southwark – including nearby libraries at John Harvard, East Street and Brandon - renew them online or leave them at one of the drop off points nearby that are being arranged.

Full details of alternative services, including the libraries e-book collection, will be available on the council’s website at www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries

Page last updated: 23 November 2018