Putney Library Fully Reopens After £1million Makeover
Official relaunch coincides with venue's 125th anniversary
Fleur Anderson (right) tries out the new cafe in the library
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July 26, 2024
After a prolonged period in which parts of Putney Library were unavailable due to building work, the upgraded facility is now fully opened.
The official reopening of Putney Library last week coincided with its 125th anniversary. Originally opened in 1899, the library now boasts a brightly refurbished children’s section and a quiet study area. There were also upgrades to heating and doors withing the building to help make it more secure and sustainable.
A new café which will be run by the team who operate Putney Pantry in St Mary’s Church is the centrepiece of a redevelopment programme that required a £1 million investment from Wandsworth Council.
There are also new Start-Up Wandsworth co-working spaces the library, with meeting space for hire for up to 45 people. More information about the new facilities can be found at the Library’s website.
Putney MP Fleur Anderson paid a visit shortly after reopening and is encouraging her constituents to go and see for themselves.
She said, “It was lovely to grab a coffee at the newly opened Putney Library café last weekend to celebrate its re-opening. I am so proud that our Labour-led Wandsworth Council has successfully completed this wonderful £1 million renovation. Please pop in to support the new café and see what a fantastic refurbishment job they have done.
“Putney Library has been an institution in our community for 125 years and this investment shows our commitment to maintaining a space that is open to all, for learning, coming together as a community and providing invaluable support for residents for years to come.”
The renovations at Putney Library follow closely on the heels of the new Wandsworth Town and Northcote Libraries, which were officially welcomed into service earlier this year.
Library usage across Wandsworth is on the rise, with over a million visits to the borough’s libraries last year, marking a 17% increase on the previous year.
Judi Gasser, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member responsible for libraries, said, “I’m proud that we’re keeping our libraries up to state-of-the-art quality for our residents. Putney Library has been open for 125 years now, and this investment ensures it will remain a vital resource for many more years. Our libraries are some of the best-used in the country, and we are committed to providing the best possible facilities for our residents.”
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