Tag Archives: Libraries

Short-staffed libraries forced to close their doors until 2022

Posted on December 23, 2021 by insidecroydon

Croydon’s libraries, already operating on much-reduced opening hours, will close their doors tonight and not re-open until Monday, January 3, at the earliest. The closures leave students working towards exams in the New Year and other residents denied access to … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Joseph Heller could use Croydon as a sequel to Catch 22’

Posted on January 28, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The row between the Labour council and Tory government over the possible costs of staging a mayoral referendum has got loyal reader IAN KIERANS crunching some numbers Is it really £1million additional costs to stage a referendum over … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Libraries, Planning, Refuse collection, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Story Tellers young writers competition, to Feb 29

Posted on February 13, 2020 by insidecroydon
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Libraries seek volunteers to introduce readers to Roald Dahl

Posted on July 19, 2016 by insidecroydon

Croydon’s libraries are looking for volunteers to help children and their parents through the “Big Friendly Read” Summer Reading Challenge. The annual reading campaign aims to get children to read at least six books during the summer holiday. For 2016 … Continue reading →

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Croydon looks for volunteer-run libraries and ‘bookish gyms’

Posted on March 14, 2016 by insidecroydon

GENE BRODIE on the announcement of a council consultation which puts the future of the borough’s libraries in doubt yet again A fortnight ago, Inside Croydon reported the startling news that some of Croydon’s Labour councillors are prepared to abandon … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 London elections, Carillion, Croydon Council, Education, Greenwich Leisure, Libraries, Norbury, Sanderstead, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Newman and Labour cabinet contemplate library closures

Posted on February 25, 2016 by insidecroydon

GENE BRODIE, our education, libraries and bookish gyms correspondent, reports on private meetings held by the council leadership to consider breaking an election pledge to Croydon’s voters Croydon’s ruling Labour group is split over whether to break its manifesto commitment … Continue reading →

Posted in Carillion, Croydon Council, Education, Greenwich Leisure, Hamida Ali, Libraries, Norbury, Paul Scott, Sanderstead, Sean Fitzsimons, Thornton Heath, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon Wordfest open mic Friday, Thornton Heath, Feb 27

Posted on February 20, 2015 by insidecroydon
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Library offering a month-full of activities at Upper Norwood

Posted on February 8, 2015 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library Trust continues to work hard to provide a rich range of activities, suitable for a range of ages, including lots of sessions for toddlers, regular talks on local history from the Norwood Society, and a monthly … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Council set to bring pools, parks and library service in-house

Posted on November 12, 2014 by insidecroydon

Croydon school pupils denied desks to study in the borough’s public libraries, free swimming sessions going under-publicised, and our parks being locked up because of a lack of contractor staff could all be things of the past if outsourced services … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Carillion, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Environment, Fusion, John Laing Integrated Services, Leisure services, Libraries, Refuse collection, Timothy Godfrey, Wandle Park, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Godfrey ensures council sticks to funding pledge for library

Posted on November 8, 2014 by insidecroydon

Croydon Council’s new leadership has honoured a promise to increase funding to Upper Norwood Library, matching that provided by Lambeth. Labour’s arts and culture spokesman, Timothy Godfrey, has pledged an additional £47,500 this year, reinstating funding cut two years ago … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, John Wentworth, Libraries, Norwood Society, Pat Ryan, South Norwood, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Upper Norwood Library offers some a-maze-ing activities

Posted on July 18, 2014 by insidecroydon

Lots of activities coming up for the school summer holidays at the Upper Norwood Library, and in the maze in Crystal Palace Park, all beginning this week with the Summer Reading Challenge. Library users aged between five and 10 are … Continue reading →

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Dungeons, dragons and books: summer reading challenge

Posted on July 9, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Reading Agency and Croydon Libraries are working together to present a Summer Reading Challenge, based on mythical characters from books, with a £100-worth of books on offer for Croydon schools that take part.

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Library gets in Festival spirit with quiz, walks and poetry

Posted on June 25, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library and the Norwood Society have put together a package of cultural and historical events for people of all ages as part of the Crystal Palace Overground Festival, which starts this week. The events continue throughout the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace Park, Education, History, Libraries, Norwood Society, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Library deal questioned as council blacklists the blacklisters

Posted on May 29, 2014 by insidecroydon

Croydon Council is set to stop using building contractors that have blacklisted workers for their union affiliations, following Labour winning last week’s local elections, the trade magazine Building is reporting. The policy of the new council could also place Carillion, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carillion, Libraries, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Let’s make our libraries the cornerstones of our communities

Posted on May 13, 2014 by insidecroydon

VOTE 2014: TIMOTHY GODFREY, spokesman on arts and culture for the local Labour group, outlines his party’s policy for the borough’s marginalised and privatised public library service Something has gone terribly wrong at Croydon libraries. When the then Labour Council … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Art, Carillion, David Lean Cinema Campaign, John Laing Integrated Services, Libraries, Riesco Collection, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Upper Norwood Library announces events for half-term week

Posted on May 7, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library, now being run by a hard-working group of local people, has a number of events coming up later this month (including during half-term week), some of which require advance booking. Tue May 27, 10.30am – 12pm: … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace Community Association, Education, Libraries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cry God for Harry, England and the Upper Norwood Library

Posted on April 24, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library Campaign chose St George’s Day to rally all its supporters to start to lobby candidates of all the parties in next month’s local elections to fight for increased funding for the library. “The Library is at … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Developer’s donation welcomed by Upper Norwood Library

Posted on April 23, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library Trust has received £1,000 from Neville De Souza, the director of Crystal Palace-based developer Lightbox. The money was donated from the commission on art works sold at Lightbox’s elegant redevelopment of the Thicket pub on Anerley … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carillion cuts jobs just weeks after taking over libraries

Posted on January 30, 2014 by insidecroydon

Up to eight professionals working across Croydon’s network of 13 branch libraries face redundancy, just a few weeks after a firm of builders which had never pitched for the job took over the running of the borough’s libraries. Four of … Continue reading →

Posted in Carillion, Croydon Council, John Laing Integrated Services, Libraries, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Upper Norwood Library recruiting after £15,000 IT grant

Posted on January 27, 2014 by insidecroydon

The Upper Norwood Library Trust has been awarded £15,000 from the People’s Health Trust to provide IT training and free access to computers at the library for disadvantaged local residents as a way to engage them in learning and reduce … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Has Croydon called in carpet baggers to sell-off libraries?

Posted on June 19, 2011 by insidecroydon

So has the Sunday Express uncovered Croydon Council’s hidden agenda on libraries? In a report published today, the Express says that American firm Library Systems Services Inc (LSSI) has Britain’s beleaguered public-funded library system in its sights and “is targeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Norbury, Sanderstead, Sara Bashford | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How Croydon Council tries to hide a consultation (Part 94)

Posted on June 13, 2011 by insidecroydon

Today is D-Day as far as the future of Croydon’s libraries is concerned, with a public meeting at the Town Hall from 6.30pm. It represents the latest example of how a “consultation” works in dystopian Croydon in 2011.

Posted in Libraries, Sara Bashford | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments