Eltham library hailed for its status as a community hub and friend of Ukraine
Eltham Centre Library has been been highly commended in the ‘Library of the Year’ awards – acknowledging the part it has played in helping Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia.
The venue was recently shortlisted in the annual competition which is organised by The Bookseller magazine, in partnership with publisher Dorling Kindersley and charity The Reading Agency.
In the regional results – which were announced this week – Eltham, along with the Roehampton Children’s Library, both achieved the coveted ‘highly-commended’ status for their creativity and community engagement.
Eltham Centre Library, in Archery Road, is a popular community hub which provides many activities throughout the week, for toddlers through to older people.
The library is twinned with the Central Library in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, thanks to an innovative project run by the charity Libraries Connected.
The project connects British and Ukrainian culture and literature. Eltham has become home to a large community of Ukrainian refugees, displaced by their country’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
GLL’s Greenwich Libraries partnership manager Paul Drumm said: “We are very proud that Eltham Centre Library came ‘Highly Commended’ by the Bookseller at the Library of the Year Awards 2025.
“At the library, we have developed a welcoming approach to engaging readers from all walks of life. Our ethos for what a library is and could be is inspired by the community.
“This year, we have worked with the large Ukrainian community in Eltham. We partnered with the Ukrainian Arts Hub to provide space for an exhibition of paintings by young people living in Ukraine and Eltham.
“The library is a true community hub. We’re particularly proud of the role we play in supporting young people and elderly residents who sometimes struggle with loneliness. Through programmes like Rhyme Time, we have welcomed new families, while Chatty Tuesday has become a heart-warming space for older people to connect and socialise.”
Roehampton’s Children’s Library, in Danebury Avenue, has recently undergone a complete renovation via the ‘Revive Roehampton’ project. This has included more inclusive stock, eye-catching displays.
October Jones, Children’s Librarian and the driving force behind the scheme, said. “I was gobsmacked to hear we’d been commended – I almost didn’t submit the application because I didn’t think it was ‘big’ enough! The community are so deserving of a modern library service that caters to their needs and celebrates their creativity and we are ecstatic at the recognition from such a prestigious award.”
The library has also introduced a new, souped-up timetable which includes creative writing, an after-school club, comic book workshops, a schools’ programme and family events where parents are given tips on reading to their kids.
Karen Napier, chief executive of The Reading Agency, said: “This year’s applications for Library of the Year have been exceptional, showcasing the ingenuity and innovation that libraries harness every day to reach new audiences. However, the regional and country winners stood out for their creativity and impact.
“From large-scale authority-wide events, programming with diverse local partners, to careful and targeted
initiatives like a book club for adults with Down syndrome, these winners exemplify the power of libraries to engage communities in meaningful ways.”
Eltham and Roehampton Libraries are run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. Supporting the wellbeing of local communities is an important part of the organisations’ ethos.
Pictured top: Eltham Centre Library (Picture: GLL)