As I sit here at Crofton Park Library I look over to the counter and I see Darren Taylor C.E.O of Eco Computer Systems chatting away with his staff, checking out books and looking like any other volunteer, there is no pretence, no stuffiness, just a willingness to get on with the job of keeping the library open, as he said he would. This morning I'm sitting in this lovely bright building I feel privileged to be part of this. I have my laptop (wireless users please feel free to come in) I glance around there is a man studying,he has a pile of books besides him. Over in the children's section I can hear a couple of mums and their young children chattering away. I spoke to Darren he is utterly calm and loving his new role.
It is marvellous to be able to sit here knowing that if there had been no protests, there would be no library to sit in and he acknowledges that by having a lot of the protesters from the original campaign group working for him now. A young local woman Remi saw the photographs of one of the volunteers Gwen on the Pepys Resource Centre facebook Page, see link below, and recognised her as her Old Brown Owl, Gwen had worked at Grove Park for many years as a librarian and here she is still around volunteering and making a local woman feel that everything is alright with the world.
The role of the library has changed so much, when I was a kid of course there were no computers and you had to go scrumping or using your imagination to enjoy yourself but of course things have changed a lot and now a lot of children are experts on the In's and outs of computers. As this is a newly formed Community Hub, Crofton Park will be providing I.T training for everyone of all ages.
Cycling down to Grove Park Library I arrived just as Mhari Clare, The Hub Manager was locking up for the day. Mhari Clare has a lot of ideas and wants what the community wants, she is off for a meeting at the Residential home for Seniors just around the corner they have expressed an interest in helping, one has also offered to clean the rather grubby nets on the window saying she has been dying to wash them for years. The offer has been kindly accepted. The seniors have also expressed a desire to learn I.T. we want everyone to learn the delights of the Internet, where else would I know what is going on that interests me, walks, exhibitions and even free lectures at the Geological Society on Piccadilly, get there early.
Mhari Clare felt that 99.9% of the users were happy with the new management and had said they were just glad the library was still open. Cycling down Burnt Ash Road and then in to Somertrees Avenue I saw a few shops and it would seem that there is not a lot for people to do this far down from Grove Park Town Center.
Closing this Library was not an option.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=226687237356852&set=pu.173041006054809&type=1&theater
Eco Community Hubs Opening Times & Staff Information
| MON | TUE | WED | THUR | FRI | SAT | |
| Grove Park Eco Community Hub & Library Somertrees Avenue, SE12 0BX Tel: 020 8857 5794 Hub Manager: Mhari Claire mhari.claire@ecocom.org.uk | 0900-1300 -1000-1030 is U5s sing-a long | 1430-2000 | CLOSED | 0900-2000 | CLOSED | 0900-1700 Alternate Saturdays are local Cllr ward Meetings |
| Crofton Park Eco Community Hub & Library Brockley Road, SE4 2AF Tel: 020 8692 1683 Hub Manager: Kaiya Willaims kaiya@ecocom.org.uk | 0900-1700 | 0900-1900 | CLOSED | 0900-1900 | 0900-1300 | 0900-1700 |
| Sydenham Eco Community Hub & Library 210 Sydenham Road, SE26 5SE Tel: 020 8778 7563 Hub Manager: Nesrin Ingham nesrin.ingham@ecocom.org.uk | 0930-1700 | 0930-1900 | CLOSED | 0930-1900 | CLOSED | 0930-1700 |
| Pepys Resource Centre Old Library, Deptford Strand, SE8 3BA Eco Tel: 020 8691 3146 Hub Managers: Kim & Stephanie This Centre has a facebook page where you can also leave messages. | 1000-1800 | 1000-1800 | 1000-1800 | 1000-1800 | 1000-1800 | 1000-1600 |
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