Due to a fire in Walworth Town Hall on Monday 25 March, the Walworth One Stop Shop, Cuming Museum and Newington Library are closed. Alternative locations are now available for many affected services.
Summer Reading Challenge sees record numbers in Southwark
Published 14 October 2011
Over 5,000 youngsters took part in Southwark Council’s Summer Reading Challenge this year, beating all previous records.
Children were challenged to read six books during the summer break and received rewards for their efforts. In total 5,631 children took part, and of those 2,607 managed to complete the six book target.
Presentations were made last weekend to some of the children, including three children from the same family, who all received certificates.
Proud mother Mrs Ugo Chukwuma, whose children Ngozi, Chino and Chinedu have taken part for the last five years, said:
"It is a great activity for children to do over the summer and has greatly helped the children with their reading."
Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics at Southwark Council, said:
"This is a great way of rewarding children who love to read, and encouraging them along the way. It's fantastic that the challenge is being taken up by a growing number of children each year and it's testimony to our excellent libraries that this is such a success."
Background Information
Summer Reading Challenge is an annual national event carried out by the majority of London boroughs for children 4 to 12 years.
The council has just published its libraries review report which is to go to cabinet for a decision on October 18. It sets out recommendations to keep all the borough's libraries open and to make savings of nearly £400,000 through a raft of measures including reduced opening hours on some libraries, sharing space with other council departments, and joint working with other boroughs.
The council is also set to open a flagship £14.1m library next month at Canada Water. The library, designed by internationally renowned architect Piers Gough, will form part of a major regeneration project in Rotherhithe.
