Camberwell Library celebrated its one year anniversary this month. The library has been praised by the residents as it has become a safe and secure place for them to go to.

The library was part of the Southwark Council’s £11 million Revitalise5 Camberwell scheme starting from 2013 and was opened to the public in November 2015 after two years of delayed construction.

Claire Hill, a mother of a two-year-old, finds the library to be a great place to come to spend some time with her son: “I am glad this got done because some people, including myself, felt that the area needed a nice indoors area.” Hill and her son enjoy attending the playgroups as often as they can: “My little boy really seems to enjoy them. I think it’s great that they offer activities for children as well as for adults. It’s very diverse.”

There are 27,000 items of stock for customers to choose from and various activities every day aimed at different age groups. For children the library offers writing, gaming and reading sessions. For an older crowd there’s knitting, help with job hunting, poetry and book clubs.

The library sometimes arranges author talks and different kinds of sessions, giving customers the opportunity to learn, discuss and debate different subjects and issues.

Mark Rodenhurst, who has worked in the library as a manager since the opening, said: “This past year has been very successful. We are planning to keep making the library better and offer more and more to our customers.” Rodenhurst also mentions how the development works of Camberwell Green, the park right next to the library, have made a difference to the area and made the surroundings of the library more inviting.

The library is open to the public seven days a week.