The council is preparing for the new local library to open in Wootton Street, Waterloo on a bigger and better site this summer to replace the area’s current service operating from a space within the Oasis Centre in Kennington Road.
Waterloo’s library has been at the Oasis Centre since 2014 under moves to improve on library services in the area and ensure local residents’ needs were met. The latest proposed move maintains that pledge.
Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “This is a big commitment to library services in Lambeth and builds on our pledges to back these vital front-line council-run services.
“Waterloo has gone from having a temporary library in a portacabin more than a decade ago, to services in a community centre to the latest proposal for a council run stand-alone library in the heart of Waterloo.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for the council financially, and for local authorities across London, but we are determined to protect the frontline services our residents have told us they value the most.”
The Wootton Street site will be available as a library for at least 18-months, and work on finding a permanent location in Waterloo is being progressed. The council has already applied for change of use planning permission to ensure the scheme can progress in a timely manner. The new location was chosen to best ensure continuity of service, as the council is committed to maintaining library services in Waterloo.
Lambeth Council puts £4million a year into its ten libraries and the new Lambeth Archives in Brixton Hill, and has invested heavily in ensuring the buildings are up to a high standard and well-staffed by trained librarians.
In 2024 Brixton Library underwent a £1million improvement programme. Tate South Lambeth library in Stockwell officially reopened last year following a £360,000 Lambeth Council investment to restore its Victorian features, introduce brand-new toilets and an air-source heat pump, ensuring it best meets the needs of the local community.
Durning Library, Carnegie Library, Minet Library and Streatham Library all also had improvement works completed last year. Residents can access more information about Lambeth’s broad services, and about all libraries in the borough, at lambeth.gov.uk/libraries.
