Research your home’s history, your history or just find out about what Lambeth was like in 1913
This month has seen Lambeth’s first Heritage Festival take place – with all kinds of events and talks taking place across the borough. Taking their theme as 1913 it’s included speakers on the suffragettes, ‘Black Edwardians’ and local Edwardian architecture.
With just under two weeks to go there’s still lots to do – anything from a talk organised by the Norwood Society about’ letters to the editor’ from between 1888 and 1918 to a walk ‘in the shoes of Vincent Van Gogh’ on Saturday, 21 September.
On Friday, 27 September you can tour the Black Cultural Archives – but you must book ahead by emailing info@bcaheritage.org.uk or ringing 020 7582 8516 or on Saturday, 28 September pop into the Lambeth Archives for a day-long programme of talks, stalls and activities.
Let me be perfectly clear and openly state: I am a life-long user of libraries and I have no intention of stopping.
As a Lambeth resident I use both Brixton and Minet Libraries, one because it’s central and has a bigger selection, the other because it’s closer to home and has a good selection of books, DVDs and comics.
The staff members are really approachable and helpful in both libraries too.
I find it odd and worrying that so many people seem to have forgotten about libraries – never popping in on the off-chance of getting out something new or an old classic, or just browsing and coming across some obscure treasure.
Even many friends – up to date in the fights against cuts in public services – seem not to remember that libraries offer books, computer usage, DVDs and CDs for very little and a whole wealth of knowledge.
You can get Series 1 and 2 of Borgen and all three series of The Killing for a tiny pittance for goodness sake!
And every Lambeth library except West Norwood offers free, unlimited Wi-Fi access.
So Lambeth’s libraries are in Brixton, Herne Hill (Carnegie Library), Clapham, Kennington (Durning Library), Streatham, Tate South Lambeth, Upper Norwood, Waterloo and West Norwood.
And don’t forget the irreplaceable Lambeth Archives and Minet Library.
It’s not just the service for old fogeys, youngsters flock into Lambeth’s libraries to catch up with friends on the computers, do homework and even get books out.
The staff are going all out to entice people back to the libraries – under threat from council cuts – with anything from reading competitions to film evenings – at Minet library on the first Tuesday of every month (or the last Wednesday at 2pm) you can sip a glass of wine and watch some fascinating old classics like Ida Lupino’s 1953 The Hitch-Hiker and Orson Welles’ 1958 Touch Of Evil.
PS did you know that Ida Lupino was born and raised in Herne Hill? No, neither did I, but the library staff did.
Yeah, yeah – you can get Netflix and LoveFilm etc etc but this is about more than ease of hire, it’s about bringing a disparate community together for an evening watching a film and then discussing it.People from all walks of life and ages come along to the library and you see dads and mums reading to their kids, old people catching up with the news and youngsters doing their homework at the tables.
They are not as S-I-L-E-N-T as they used to be ‘back in the day’ of far off times but who cares. There’s a buzz and a joy of people all doing something they enjoy – together.
Brixton offers a great reference and information service and a good, quiet place to study or work and you can find out all about Lambeth and its history at the Lambeth Archives at Minet Library.
The borough’s diverse and the libraries stock books in 19 languages and offer all kinds of activities including literacy classes and silver surfers and computer workshops.
Hire a few DVDs, read some library books, go along to a classic film evening – it’s not much of an effort but it might be the difference the libraries need for when the debate about closing them comes around again.
And I gather that the debate has only been postponed.
I am NOT a librarian secretly trying to muster up support, I AM a library lover and do not want to see our local libraries replaced by yet another chain or another **^%&^&^^*&* estate agent.
Let’s keep it real local!
And if you are concerned about losing our libraries and services why not visit www.lambethsaveourservices.org and see what others are doing.
Lynnette Sebuwufu and her Silver Surfer class details at the Angell Delight Community Project
I popped into the Angell Delight Community Project on Angell Town Estate to meet London Creative Labs (LCL) graduate Lynnette Sebuwufu who is been running a ‘Silver Surfers’ project – teaching over 50s (and anyone else) how to use computers and the internet.
The Project centre is an ideal venue for the class as it has four computers for use by residents and other amenities too.
With a Masters in IT and a strong interest in community engagement, Lynnette has enjoyed running the course on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 1pm.
When the project began in November last year it was funded, but that has now ended and Lynnette is looking for more financial support but is managing to keep the lessons going at the moment as she has committed to the project for two years.
“I am able to contribute to community cohesion and also get to engage with others as we have a discussion group before each tutorial,” she says.
With a small class who are keen to grow their online skills, the sessions have also provided a chance for neighbours and Angell Town residents to meet and have some amazing chats.
Class member Doreen said she had gained in confidence after attending the classes and was considering building up her Facebook page.
“Although I am not so sure about the time people spend on social media,” she laughs
A dedicated teacher, Lynnette pops in on other mornings too, to check if residents need help on the Angell Delight Community Project computers or have technical questions for her.
“I think it is better for people to work out their computer problems in this kind of community space where we can help them and not when they are at home alone,” she says.
Inspired by her attendance at courses run by Social Business (LCL), Lynnette is keen to keep building on the community structures already in place in Angell Town.
She’s inspired by LCL’s Sofia Bustamante who “still pops in when she can” and the organisation’s ethos of:creating the jobs and kind of work that we would want our children to have, discovering better business/other models to generate the jobs and work and helping more people participate in the process.
Angell Delight Centre co-ordinator Mary Ekenachi arrived mid-session. A seasoned organiser of numerous community events, she had been one of the key players in identifying residents who would benefit from and be interested in the project.
If you can suggest possible funding for Lynnette’s project, provide funding, want to find out more about it or would like to chat to her about it email her at lynsebu2005@yahoo.co.uk or pop into the centre at Unit B, Fairfax House, Overton Road
Who would have thought that the ‘old-fashioned’ pastime of knitting could ever be so cutting edge? Well, aside from the unexpected joy brought about by the yarnbombing of an area or the sudden colours in a grey, London street, it’s also become one of THE ways to protest.
We’ve had a bit of yarnbombing in LJ at the Big Lunch and look forward to lots more – and if you want to see some jolly knitting for yourselves head to the House in the Junction next to the Shakespeare Business Centre and take a peek at their window. Fun and funky …
So G8 summit leaders beware … the very chairs you sit in as you (desperately hopeful here) decide on some humane and decisive actions could be ‘made over’ into a colour-fest of knitted glory as you pontificate!
According to the Guardian the yarnbombers are there and ready …
Yarnbombers gear up for the G8 summit photo: the Guardian
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