Libraries across London are sharing  £15.3 million from the Big Lottery Fund, so they can offer a wider range of community activities.

Twelve local library authorities in the capital are today receiving grants from BIG’s Community Libraries programme to renovate, extend or build new libraries so that they can offer a broader range of activities to their local residents and attract those, who may not have previously connected with their libraries.

The funding is part of a total £80 million England-wide investment by the Big Lottery Fund to widen community learning opportunities through libraries.

Debbie Pippard, the Big Lottery Fund Head of London Region, said: “An increasing number of people are using library services in London and it is clear that our local libraries are at their best when they act as focal points for community life; providing a range of reading, learning and information activities for the city’s multicultural and diverse population. Today’s awards will bring the capital funds needed to transform or modify library buildings to provide a wide range of community uses.

“The Big Lottery Fund is determined to ensure that these awards from the Community Libraries programme are additional to other funding and are supporting activities which wouldn’t otherwise be supported.”

In Ealing, a £1.2 million grant will turn Northolt Library into a modern and accessible centre for community learning and development. A brighter building with improved accessibility and a larger internal space will become a model of environmental sustainability for existing libraries in Ealing.

Councillor Nigel Sumner, Cabinet Member for Health and Community Well Being, said: "This exciting project provides a perfect opportunity to open up a library to a wide range of learning and leisure activities with the full participation of the local community in deciding what those facilities are and how they are run.

"As well as creating a focus for community activity in this area, the new community library will act as a model for service delivery to our library service as a whole. The service is undergoing a significant period of change with a series of library refurbishments, new buildings and joint developments, and we are very pleased that this grant will enhance this programme and allow us to provide the quality of services that our residents deserve."

Across town, £2 million will build an inclusive library, information and learning centre for Bethnal Green's diverse population. It will complete the Borough's Idea Store Strategy, a concept that came from the largest public consultation on libraries ever undertaken in the UK.

Combining a traditional library space with specialist areas dedicated to learning activities, community meetings and art displays, the new centre will help address issues of multiple deprivation in the area

Cllr Shiria Khatun, Lead Member for Culture, Tower Hamlets Council said: "It is exciting that the Big Lottery Fund has recognised the success of Idea Stores, a concept which combines traditional libraries with first class lifelong learning opportunities.”

While in Croydon, a £1.3 million grant will extend the existing library in Thornton Heath, bringing it into the 21st century. The library, built in 1914, will become a focal point for learning, development and creativity making it a more welcoming and accessible building, that will foster a sense of community ownership and pride.  

Councillor Steve Hollands, cabinet member for culture and sport said: "We are delighted that we have been successful in gaining this grant from the Big Lottery Fund. Thornton Heath Library is a much used community facility and this grant will enable us to modernise, redesign and refurbish the library to make it fit for delivering 21st century library service. It will help us provide a centre for community learning and development that is open and accessible to all."

The Community Libraries funding will create new spaces, turning libraries into community hubs that offer a range of activities to appeal to a wide section of society.

Using their additional space, libraries will offer more learning opportunities and activities to attract groups and individuals who may not have used the buildings in the past. Reading groups, writing groups, language classes, family learning activities, art and museum exhibitions, cultural activities, drama, information seminars and health initiatives are all some of the activities that could be on offer.

Full list of grants awarded in London today:

London Borough	Project	Amount awarded
London Borough of Croydon	This project will to extend the existing library in Thornton Heath, Croydon.	£1,373,470
London Borough of Enfield	The project will extend the existing library allowing for the creation of meeting rooms, study and community areas.	£948,139
London Borough of Merton	The project will increase the current library by 30 per cent, creating additional space for learning, community activities and reader development with the emphasis on basic skills and family learning.	£958,078
London Borough of Islington	The project aims to transform two libraries both built more than 100 years ago into modern facilities delivering services to meet the needs of today’s new communities.	£791,389
London Borough of Southwark	The project aims to extend the existing John Harvard Library to create a modern, energy efficient building which is better equipped to meet the needs of the local community.	£1,420,594
London Borough of Ealing	This project aims to develop the Northolt Library into a modern and accessible centre for community learning and development.	£1,279,273
London Borough of Wandsworth	The project aims to create a new seminar space/IT learning suite, separate space for 10-15 year olds, installation of self-service issue/return options and inclusion of sustainable energy measures. .	£1,469,410
London Borough of Haringey	This project aims to extend the existing Coombes Croft library to increase the number of activities in terms of quantity and choice that currently cannot be offered as demand is too high in the current space.	£1,063,628
Westminster City Council	An extension of the existing library will create space for a new learning centre. The project aims to create defined adult, children’s and young people's areas on separate floors, an indoor breathing space and a separate space for community use.	£1,066,097
London Borough of Brent	The project aims to redevelop the current Harlesden library into a cutting edge facility through the creation of a learning centre that meets the needs of all local residents and creates a model for engaging with hard to reach groups.	£1,463,602
London Borough of Sutton	The project aims to build a new 2-storey library and community centre designed to be a high quality, eco-friendly and accessible landmark building.	£1,476,350
London Borough of Tower Hamlets	The project will build a new library facility to provide an inclusive library, information and learning centre for Bethnal Green's diverse population.	£2,000,000

A full list of the 58 library projects to receive funding can be found at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/pr_301007_eng_libraries_awards

Further information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102 030
Textphone:  0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Big Lottery Fund rolls out close to £2 million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £20 billion has now been raised and more than 280,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.