User:Rhagfyr/sandbox/draft 7

Library

1956 saw the House transformed by Camberwell Borough Council into the library and community centre.

In 1954 it was decided by Camberwell council to turn the building into library and community centre, for the benefit of Kingswood Estate residents.

An opening ceremony, hosted by actor Peter Ustinov and the then Camberwell mayor Alderman John Evans, who used the opportunity of the library to read up on Ustinov, saying “I looked up Who’s Who’ and anyone who wants to know something about our distinguished visitor can find it in the library”.

It was remarked at the ceremony that the house was now 'as it should be', for the community and "not something reserved for one select and privileged family".

Library
Since 1956 the house held a public library.

The 1960s saw the house store the then Camberwell borough's library service reserve stock collection.

In 1993 the library was threatened with closure, with the suggestion that the library could move into a space at the Seeley Drive shops. The community ran a Save The Library campaign, gathering 720 signatures in a petition.

Between 2014 and 2019 the library's funding was cut to nearly half, from £23,885 to £12,618.