Lambeth Libraries events and activities for December 2023

Turner winning artist Jeremy Deller to speak at Carnegie Library

The Lambeth Libraries App is here!

From Friday 1 December, you’ll be able to load your library card onto your phone and view your account with our new library app! No more forgotten or lost library cards as you can use your card on the app. With the app you can even borrow books using your phone instead of the self-service kiosks.

You can also search the catalogue with the app. If you are in a bookshop and want to see if you can borrow a book rather than buy it, you can scan the barcode on the back and it will let you know if it is in stock in a Lambeth Library.

To download, search Lambeth Libraries in your app store. You can then scan your library card barcode or type it in, put in your PIN, and you will be ready to go.

Improvement works to library buildings

Brixton Library has temporarily moved to the 5th Level at Brixton Recreation Centre until 30 January 2024. This is to start work to replace the lift which is at the end of its life. Excavation work is taking place during December and January and then a new lift block will be built between February and May 2024 which will make the basement accessible by lift for the first time. Other work being undertaken is improvements to the toilets. In response to feedback from parents and carers, a new toilet is being provided just for those using the children’s library. Three new toilets are also being built for the rest of the library users. When we move back into the library on 31st January, the children’s library will be initially smaller but once the building work is complete in May 2024 it will be refurbished and the will be the same size as it is now and perhaps even a little bigger.

Streatham Library building work has also started. This will bring air-conditioning into the Mark Bennett Hall and also into part of the library which gets particularly hot in summer. A room in the basement is also being opened up for the first time. In addition a hearing loop is being installed in the Hall.

Durning Library meeting Pods and meeting room are now complete. The beautiful original features of the meeting room have been restored making it a really lovely room for hire.

We realise that these works are disruptive but we are working with the construction teams so the disruption is kept to a minimum. Although the temporary library at the Recreation Centre is small we have kept the same opening hours and activities running, and have computers, Wi-Fi, study space and a small collection of books. If you cannot find the book you need, staff at Brixton Library will order it for you for free while we are based in the temporary library.

All at Lambeth Libraries wish you a restful and enjoyable festive season and look forward to seeing you in the run up to Xmas and into the New Year.

Events for Adults

A Fun Xmas Night

Friday 1 December, 6.30 to 8.30pm
South Lambeth Library, SW8 1QP

Join the Friends of South Lambeth library for a night of Xmas fun with quizzes, prizes a sing-a-long and for the children a special visit from Santa - all welcome.

Organised by the Friends Of Tate South Lambeth Library. For more details contact friendsoftsl@hotmail.com

25th annual Carnegie Library Winter Fair

Saturday 2 December, 11am to 3pm
Carnegie Library, SE24 0AG

Fun for all ages; Live jazz music, craft activities, prizes, raffles and all the Xmas festivities - all welcome. Event organised by the Friends of Carnegie Library.

A History of the Christmas Crib

Monday 11 December, 7pm
Durning Library, SE11 4HF
Booking via Eventbrite

Join Tim Everson to hear about his new book. The Christmas crib first appeared after a village church service in 1223 when St Francis of Assisi used real people, straw and animals to bring the Christmas story to life. But the Nativity had been depicted in art and described in church for many centuries before that. This book - the first full history written on the subject in the UK for nearly 100 years - traces that story and the history of cribs and their development from the gospels to today. The book will be on sale.

Event organised by the Friends of Durning Library. Entry free. Refreshments (£3 cash donation towards costs).

Art is Magic with Jeremy Deller

Tuesday 12 December, 7pm
Carnegie Library, SE24 0AG
Booking via Eventbrite

Join Artist Jeremy Deller for a revealing account of his inspirations, passions and practices. Art is Magic is a holistic and revealing account of the practices of one of the UK’s foremost contemporary artists. In work that is playful, political and provocative, borrowing from many forms and produced over many mediums, Jeremy Deller enjoys critical acclaim in the UK and across the world. Art is Magic is the first book in which the artist reflects on the entirety of his career, his life and his art.

Event organised by the Friends of Carnegie Library.

Booker Prize 2023

Paul Lynch © David Parry/Booker Prize Foundation

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch has been announced as the winner of the Booker Prize 2023. He was presented with his trophy at a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London. Prophet Song is Lynch’s fifth novel and an exhilarating, propulsive and confrontational portrait of Ireland – and a family – on the brink of catastrophe. Reserve a copy at your local Library.

Events for Children and Young People

Christmas Crafts

Come and get festive in the library after school.

Monday 18 December: Minet Library

Tuesday 19 December: Upper Norwood Library

Wednesday 20 December: Waterloo Library

Thursday 21 December: Carnegie Library

All events 4.30pm to 5.30pm

Bookstart Storytime Prize

Join Lambeth Libraries in supporting the BookTrust Storytime Prize, a prize celebrating and promoting the best books for sharing with young children. In your local Library, Librarians will be sharing the top shortlisted books and you get to vote on your favourite. In addition your child gets a sticker and some great activity ideas and resources.

Other Library Activities

Digital Skills Course - Learn My Way

Mondays, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Streatham Library, SW16 1PN

A free digital skills programme that teaches the basics for you to get started on your digital journey. Just drop in to get started.

From Our Friends

Black Culture Market - Christmas Market

Saturday 2 December and Sunday 3 December, 11am to 5pm both days
Downstairs at The Department Store,
248 Ferndale Road, SW9 8FR
Booking via Eventbrite

Join Black Culture Market for their exciting Winter event for Christmas. Black Culture Market is the destination to support and shop from Black-owned businesses in Brixton. Explore the wonderful stalls whilst catching up with friends. If you're looking for food, drinks, gifts, cards, unique art, jewellery, male grooming kits, skincare, clothes, accessories and more come down!
If you are interested in trading at this event please contact the organiser.

Writers' Salon for deaf and disabled writers with Naomi Westerman

Monday 4 December, 6.30 to 8.30pm
Free and Online via Zoom
Booking via Eventbrite

An online workshop, reading and open mic for deaf and disabled writers. With Naomi Westerman. BSL interpreted.

Transparent Language Online.

Language learners, we're excited to let you know that we now have Transparent Language Online! With over 110 languages to choose from, including English, you can learn at home, in the library, or on the go. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities will help you learn the words and phrases needed to communicate effectively. It also includes KidSpeak™ a fun, age-appropriate online language course designed for children ages 6 and up that includes more than 40 activities, puzzles, and songs to guide young learners through the basics.

Free e-book and e-audiobook, magazine and comic downloads

With your library card you can use our e-library for free, just go to www.lambeth.gov.uk/LibraryServicesOnline. When logging in use all letters in your library card number 'LMP'.

We've got thousands of e-books, audiobooks, magazines and comics to download and they're all free. Get the Libby app on your phone, iPad or tablet, or access the website on a PC or laptop and start listening or reading straight away!

We now subscribe to BorrowBox and Libby App so you have more eBook and eAudiobook choices - all delivered directly to your device. Download the apps from your app store now and enjoy a feast of free listening!

BFI Replay Available in Libraries

BFI Replay is a free-to-access digital archive exclusively available in UK public lending libraries. Thousands of digitised videos and television programmes from the BFI National Archive and partner UK regions and nations film archives are available to browse and enjoy, research or study – with some familiar and memorable, others rare and unseen for decades.

New basement strong room at Brixton Hill

Lambeth Archives: The move begins...

Lambeth Archives has now started relocating to its new building on Brixton Hill. The complicated business of physically moving some two miles of records began at the beginning of November. Some of the papers which document the history of both the Council and of local people and local organisations, have been stored for over 130 years at the Minet Library in Myatts Fields. The process of carefully moving them into the new strong room at 16 Brixton Hill will take until Christmas and the new Lambeth Archives will open to the public in January 2024.

Join the Library online

If you do not have a library membership, just join online at
www.lambeth.gov.uk/jointhelibrary and contact the library you wish to collect your library card from. Alternatively, call 020 7926 0750 or email as above and we will enrol you.

Follow Lambeth Libraries on Twitter @lamlibs and on Instagram @Lambeth_Libraries

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