Tattenham Community library is back in business following a forced Covid-19 closure. The library is open every morning from 10 a.m. to 1.00 pm Monday to Saturday and until 5.00 pm on Friday afternoons and 4.00 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. It is hoped to extend afternoon openings in the New Year.
It is located in Tattenham Crescent, KT18 5NU, opposite the Tattenham Corner shops.
There is an excellent children’s library with a fantastic choice of books for all ages from toddlers to early teens.
In addition to offering a wide range of fiction books, the library has a broad selection of non-fiction including biographies, travel, gardening, and cookbooks. And if it’s not in stock, for a small fee a book can be ordered from another library. Daily newspapers are also now available again.
Visits are organised from local schools to encourage an interest in reading. And on Monday mornings, Rhyme Time welcomes toddlers to a nursery rhyme and sing along session (11.00 – 11.30 a.m. free of charge – just come along).
The library sells a range of greetings cards, postage stamps, reading glasses and second-hand books. It also acts as a collection point for the St Mark’s Food Club.
Anyone who lives in Surrey can join the library free of charge and borrow up to 20 books at a time. You can join online at https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries/your-library/join-your-library or just call in. You need some proof of residence in Surrey such as a driving licence or Council Tax bill. Membership allows access to all libraries within the County.
It also allows members to use the library’s computers. A printing and copying service is available too. And when using the library’s computers, you can get free access to reference websites and family history sites such as ancestry.com and findmypast.co.uk
If you are new to computers and need help in using them, just ask. The library staff will be pleased to help.
The library premises can also be used for community events when not open to the public.
Tattenham Community Library is one of 11 community and a total of over 50 libraries in the County. All provide a free service to residents. Surrey has recently invested in upgrading all its library computers and joined the Libraries Consortium which allows members access to 380 libraries in London and Essex in addition to Surrey. You can find out more at https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries/
What is a Community Library?
Tattenham Community Library is one of 11 libraries in the County that are run by volunteers. Back in the early 2000’s a number of libraries were threatened with closure to help Surrey reduce costs. The Residents of Tattenham & Preston valued the library as a community resource and fought hard to prevent this happening over a number of years. In the end a plan was agreed that Surrey would finance the building and the books if the community provided the people. And so in November 2012 Tattenham Community Library was born under the leadership of Pauline Sowry, a local resident but also a retired professional librarian. Under Pauline’s guidance a team of around 60 volunteers were trained in library procedures and took over the day-to-day operations and this has continued to this day.
Sadly, Pauline died in 2016 and her role was continued by Sue Spackman who leads the library team today. Different volunteers work shifts throughout the week and provide a professional and friendly service to all visitors.
Volunteers usually work three hour shifts and full training is given. If anyone is interested in joining the team, please call into the library to find out more information. Additional volunteers will help the library to extend its opening hours.