From 2006 to 2010, I was a councillor for Lee Green ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. During that time, I blogged regularly and in 2009 I won the Tim Garden Award for the Best Blog by a Liberal Democrat Holding Public Office. My blog posts from my term of office are archived here in case they prove of use to former constituents, or to those who share my annoyance with faulty street furniture
Paul, Sven and I spent this morning at the re-opening ceremony for Manor House Library. Fantastic to see the building restored and refurbished.
A few things which struck me:
- The library seems a lot bigger. Standing in the central part of the library where the desk used to be, the whole building seems a lot wider than it used to…
- The library’s fully stocked with brand new books – so even if you were a member before, you’re bound to discover something new
- The non-fiction section is now downstairs, with computer terminals etc, which will be a great homework/research area
It’s not just a new library we’ve got – as well as the meeting rooms upstairs, there’s also a Children’s Centre downstairs, which will be running taster sessions over the summer before full services begin in September. I know the staff are looking to make contact with local mums and dads, and I’ll post more here when I have details.
The library’s open for business now, and there are all sorts of activities planned for the first week – see here for details and opening times.
Lots of photos were taken today, and I’ll try and post some here in due course (in the meantime, you’ll have to make do with a shot of the cake!). Apparently, the library will also have its own Facebook group, so you’ll be able to join that and keep up to date. But the best way to find out what’s on offer is to pop in and see!
Anyone who visited the library in the past few years will know what a sad state it had been allowed to get in. The non-public areas were even worse. Thanks to years of lobbying, cajoling and sheer hard work by members of the community, we’ve now got a facility to be proud of.
I was at the Maanor House opening – our company supplied much of the furniture – it was great to see it looking so good, with new ife breathed in it and rtestored so sensitively. I first wen there about 15 years ago! whatatrnsformation – well done to all involvd.