We want to express our gratitude to the signatories of our recent petition, who played a pivotal role in securing a positive and workable tenancy agreement between the Carnegie Library Hub and Lambeth Council. Your powerful petition, the numerous letters sent to our councillors, and the collective community pressure transformed our relationship with Lambeth. We moved from feeling unheard to being genuinely respected and listened to, a remarkable shift made possible by your incredible community spirit.
On January 22nd, Councillor Deepak Sardiwal of Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction Ward officially presented our petition at a full council meeting, providing the formal acknowledgment we sought. While we had previously delivered the petition to Lambeth Directors during our campaign last October, this formal presentation was a significant symbolic moment.
We’re excited to have secured a 21-month tenancy agreement, a term we readily accepted to swiftly move onto implementing our strategic vision. While we recognize the importance of long-term security, our immediate focus is on demonstrating the Hub’s value and building upon the momentum you helped create.
We are committed to working towards our targets and showcasing the positive impact we’re making on the community and building. We are determined to solidify the Hub’s identity as a vital community asset, dispelling past uncertainties and fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
The core question of our petition—Lambeth’s strategic vision for the building—remains crucial. We are delighted to share Lambeth’s official response, approved by the relevant Cabinet member:
“The council continues to commit to the future of Carnegie Library as both a library and a hub that can support a range of activities that supports the wellbeing of the local community.
In January the council agreed a lease with the Carnegie Community Trust CIO to continue operating the Hub from the building, which will run for a 21-month period. The Trust and the council have committed to working in partnership to ensure the building is well used, maintained, and that the operation of the space is financially sustainable into the longer term. The council is excited to see what the Trust will deliver with the space in the library building and look forward to developing the long-term approach to the building in partnership and with input from the community.”
This statement is incredibly encouraging, reinforcing our shared commitment to financial sustainability and the preservation of our beloved building and library. We are confident that if we demonstrate our successes over the next 21 months, we will sure up Lambeth’s ongoing support. Clearly our financial sustainability is a crucial point, underscored by recent announcements about Lambeth’s library budget. The better we can financially support the building the community love, then the more impact this will have on the library the community so cherish.
We cannot overstate our gratitude. Without your swift and decisive action, we would not be where we are today. We now have the opportunity to implement positive changes, expand our community business, invest in our people, open a vibrant café, and enhance our facilities for sustainable community use.
We invite you to join us in this exciting chapter! If you have any skills or expertise, you’d like to share to further enrich our Hub’s offerings over the coming year, please reach out.
With heartfelt thanks,
The Team and Trustees of the Carnegie Library Hub