Recent Comments
insidecroydon on Reform party official wants to… Bernard Winchester on Reform party official wants to… insidecroydon on Selsdon Park Hotel’s new… Rich James on Selsdon Park Hotel’s new… David Tanner on 43 days to go and desperation… insidecroydon on Selsdon Park Hotel’s new…
Tag Archives: Croydon Libraries
Ashburton and Coulsdon public libraries begin to open up
Having closed four public libraries last year – at Bradmore Green, Sanderstead, Shirley and Broad Green – Croydon’s Conservative Mayor Jason Perry is oh-so-gradually rolling out longer opening hours at what remains of the borough’s library network. Ashburton Library and … Continue reading
Posted in Ashburton, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South, South Norwood, Thornton Heath
Tagged Bradmore Green, Broad Green, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Sanderstead, Shirley, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Tory
1 Comment
Council is reported to government for library report failures
Libraries correspondent GENE BRODIE on the latest twist in the long-running saga The cobbled-together, evidence-lite and contradictory report recommending the closure of four of the borough’s public libraries now faces a legal challenge – even before Croydon’s Mayor, Jason Perry, … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Charity, Community associations, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green Library, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Laura Swaffield, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Sanderstead Library, Shirley Library, The Library Campaign, Tory
4 Comments
Perry’s ‘cruel closures’ of one-quarter of borough’s libraries
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Residents’ groups in the south of the borough accuse the Mayor, and the council, of not listening, and raise serious doubts about proposals to transfer maintenance funds to other areas. By our libraries correspondent, GENE BRODIE Four … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Stranack, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Croydon South, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Purley Library, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Save Croydon Libraries, Selsdon, Selsdon Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, Tory
8 Comments
Legal battle expected as Perry to order four libraries to close
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Tory Mayor is about to rubber-stamp decision which was ridiculed by local Conservative MP as providing savings that represent ‘a drop in the ocean of the council’s debt’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Mayor Jason Perry will … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Stranack, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South, Stuart Collins
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Croydon South, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Purley Library, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Save Croydon Libraries, Selsdon, Selsdon Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, Tory
16 Comments
Closing libraries is a sign of ‘failed administration’ – say Tories
Education correspondent GENE BRODIE on the ever-present threat to the borough’s public libraries, with a doom-laden, long-delayed council report expected next week At the council cabinet meeting to be held on September 25 (the first such meeting held by our … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South, Stuart Collins
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Croydon South, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Purley Library, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Save Croydon Libraries, Selsdon, Selsdon Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, Tory
10 Comments
Time is running out to help save our threatened public libraries
CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the deadline approaches for the consultation on Tory plans to close or downgrade half the borough’s libraries, ELAINE GARROD seeks your support in responding to the council consultation I have always believed that having a local library … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon South, Elaine Garrod, Libraries
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green Library, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Croydon Public Libraries, Croydon South, Elaine Garrod, Green Party, Libraries, Libraries consultation, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Public libraries, Sanderstead Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, Tory
2 Comments
Sanderstead among four public libraries under threat of closure
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Up to seven of the borough’s libraries will close or be down-graded under Tory-run council’s plans – a decade after they last made similar proposals to flog off public assets. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Tory Mayor, Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, Property, Purley, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Shirley South, South Norwood
Tagged Bradmore Green, Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green Library, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, South Norwood, Tory
13 Comments
Open+’s CCTV gives Norbury Library few extra opening hours
Croydon, London’s Borough of Culture 2023, can afford to buy CCTV cameras and pay security guards, but it cannot afford the wages for trained librarians to open its public libraries for more than three days a week. The council has … Continue reading
Libraries to offer computer training to tackle digital exclusion
Digital skills courses, workshops and drop-ins are being staged for adults in their local libraries after Croydon Council was successful in securing grant funding. Croydon’s library service has been awarded funding from Arts Council England. The funding will go towards … Continue reading
Ready. Get set: Croydon’s reading challenge gets underway
Children aged from four to 11 could win fabulous prizes for taking part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, being run throughout Croydon’s libraries, starting today. The Reading Agency has partnered with the Youth Sport Trust for this year’s theme … Continue reading
Parents facing ‘hollowed-out’ half-term of council activities
When Jason “It’s going to get worse before it gets better” Perry referred to the “hollowed-out council” that he took charge of last May, the Tory Mayor must have had in mind the borough’s library service, which has been run … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Children's Services, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, GLL - Better, Leisure services, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Schools, South Norwood
Tagged Better, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Selsdon, South Norwood, Tory
Leave a comment
Council offers warm spaces – at libraries closed for Christmas
Cold-hearted Tory Mayor Jason Perry has, somewhat belatedly, got round to publicising a list of warm banks around the borough. But typically of the dysfunctional council, the listing of 34 venues is offered on its website, which is not accessible … Continue reading
Now is the time to make our libraries more accessible, not less
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The 10-day closure over the Christmas holiday of the borough’s public libraries may see the council failing in its legal duties, suggests IAN KIERANS With the decision to close the borough’s 13 public libraries for a 10-day period … Continue reading
Library closures are on Mayor’s lists of cuts for New Year
All Croydon’s public libraries will close next week for a 10-day break in service – from Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24 until Monday January 2. But there’s growing concerns among Katharine Street sources that some of the borough’s 13 public … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Sanderstead, South Norwood
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, South Norwood, South Norwood Library, Tory
1 Comment
Two-days-a-week libraries latest step in ‘lingering demise’
Staff and residents’ associations warn that reduced opening hours to be introduced from April 4 are just ‘library closures by stealth’ The borough’s public libraries will go on to a new, reduced hours timetable next month, the last part of … Continue reading
Posted in Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Oliver Lewis
Tagged Bradmore Green, Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green Library, Central Library, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, OCRA, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Oliver Lewis, Purley Library
1 Comment
Croydon In Crisis: Council can no longer cope with basic tasks
It was on November 11, 2020, that Croydon issued a Section114 Notice, effectively admitting they were bankrupt. Twelve months on, and now the council struggles to fulfil even the most basic of administrative services. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES Resident endures … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice
Tagged Children's Services, coronavirus, Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Covid-19, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Purley Pool
8 Comments
Croydon’s Black History Month offers much to be proud about
Croydon’s Black History Month begins tonight under the tagline “Proud2be”. Organised by the Croydon BME Forum, Black History Month includes an intergenerational fashion show, poetry readings, live music, theatre, a networking brunch and thought-provoking discussions.
Croydon Labour to return to the Three-Day Week for libraries
Oliver “Shit Show” Lewis, the councillor with responsibility for the borough’s culture, has had a second set of money-saving proposals for Croydon libraries mostly rejected, and so will preside over the council’s statutory service now being provided on just three … Continue reading
Four more public libraries set to reopen after covid lockdown
At least a month later than most local authorities managed, Croydon is to begin “a phased reopening for all library buildings”, after the easing of covid-19 precautions. Four of the borough’s 13 public libraries – at Broad Green, Sanderstead, Shirley … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Upper Norwood Library Trust
Tagged Bradmore Green, Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, London Borough of Croydon, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Shirley, Shirley Library
Leave a comment
Libraries are our long-term investment. Don’t squander it
CROYDON IN CRISIS: On World Book Day, RICHARD PACITTI outlines why closing any of the borough’s libraries is a very bad idea Think of an ideal public service. It would be one that was accessible to all members of the … Continue reading
Labour council backs scheme to encourage library volunteers
The council is “making it easier than ever before” – their own words – for people to volunteer to work in the borough’s libraries. A missive from Fisher’s Folly last week announced, “a new online system” that allows people to … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Libraries, Oliver Lewis
Tagged Central Library, Croydon Libraries, Oliver Lewis
Leave a comment
Libraries are ready for takeoff with Summer Reading Challenge
Fifty years on from Neil Armstrong taking that “one giant leap from mankind” to step on to the moon, and Croydon’s young readers are being encouraged to take interstellar adventures through the borough’s libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge. And the council … Continue reading
Mischief Makers summer reading challenge, Jul 14- Sep 15
Posted in Activities, Ashburton, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon parks, Education, Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards, Shirley North, South Norwood, Thornton Heath
Tagged Ashburton, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, London Borough of Croydon, New Addington, Purley, Thornton Heath
Leave a comment
Council on standby to take back control of public libraries
KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter, on how a corporate crisis at construction company Carillion could provide the chance to end a long-loathed outsourcing deal Croydon Council is readying itself to take back the running of the borough’s public libraries, … Continue reading
Read all about it: animals at centre of summer library challenge
Croydon libraries’ summer reading challenge starts tomorrow. Running until September 16, the scheme challenges children aged from four to 11 to finish six books in a little more than two months. Children can sign up at their local library and … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Libraries, Timothy Godfrey
Tagged Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Timothy Godfrey
Leave a comment
