Tag Archives: Croydon Libraries

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 , , , , , , , , , | 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

Posted in Adult Social Care, Charity, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, GLL - Better, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Posted in Croydon Council, Education, Libraries | Tagged , | 1 Comment

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , | 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.

Posted in Andrew Brown, Black History Month, Community associations, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Education, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Croydon Council, Libraries, Oliver Lewis, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards, Shirley North, South Norwood, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 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

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley North, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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 , , | 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

Posted in Education, Libraries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , | 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

Posted in Carillion, John Laing Integrated Services, Libraries, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 , , , , | Leave a comment

Libraries are bricking it over introduction of Lego clubs

They call it “building on the lessons learned in the classroom”. Geddit??! Over the summer holidays, Croydon’s libraries will be trying to attract local children by offering them the chance to play with Lego. Given that the management of Croydon’s … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Carillion, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Purley, Shirley North, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments