Brixton Library to close for two months in November while Streatham Library is to be refurbished

Brixton Library and Streatham Library are undergoing refurbishment and improvement work as part of Lambeth Council’s commitment to invest in our public libraries which have more than a million visits each year.

Brixton Library in Windrush Square will need to close for around two months, from 20 November until 30 January next year, so major work can be undertaken. The council has arranged for a temporary library to run at Brixton Recreation Centre in nearby Brixton Station Road to minimise the impact on local people.

During the closure of Brixton Library, major work on upgrading the toilet facilities and creating a new dedicated children’s toilet will be carried out. Work will also begin on replacing the lift as it is out of date, and the new lift will go down to the basement, meaning the basement area can be opened so more activities can be delivered.

In May the work will be completed when two new meeting pods will be installed, an improved children’s area created and more space provided for people independently studying at the library using their own laptop and other devices.

The large hall at Streatham library is being redecorated, the small meeting rooms double glazed to make them quieter and air conditioning will be installed in the library. The library will remain open throughout this work.

Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Leisure and Sports, said:

“Lambeth’s libraries are both incredibly popular and very important for our communities so I am pleased we have identified the resources to keep them up to scratch.

“Of course any temporary closure of a library has a big impact on people of all ages so having this alternative nearby while the work at Brixton Library is carried out is the right thing to do.

I know our brilliant library service colleagues will make this a success for our communities.”