We have received the folowing from PlayPlace and are delighted to share it with members … a senior member of the PlayPlace team will be at our AGM so do come along and find out more.
A Bright Future for Shirley Library as Community Group Secures New Lease
Shirley Library is set to begin an exciting new chapter, following an announcement by the Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, on Wednesday 14th May. Community organisation Play Place Innov8 CIC has been confirmed, in principle, as the successful group to take on the long-term lease and management of the library. This positive step forward means Shirley Library can continue to thrive and remain a much-loved place for learning, connection, and community life.
Play Place, a not-for-profit organisation based in Croydon, brings nearly 20 years of experience in delivering inclusive youth and community services. Their aim is to protect the library’s traditional role while also creating new opportunities for local people of all ages to enjoy and benefit from.
Chris Hennis, Business Director at Play Place, said:
“We’re excited about the opportunity to retain and improve the ‘Shirley Library and Learning Centre’, support local volunteers to help run it, and develop new family-friendly educational activities as soon as possible. We plan to retain the library’s traditional function whilst offering new opportunities for residents of all ages.”
Play Place hopes to work closely with residents, volunteers, and community groups such as the Friends of Shirley Library and Residents Associations to shape the library’s future. This approach will help ensure that the library remains a welcoming and useful space for everyone. In more good news, we recently received a generous donation of books from Shirley Methodist Church, following their recent book sale. A huge thank you to everyone involved for their support”!
The plan is to keep the library’s core services including free loan of books, study areas, and computer access, while also introducing activities that reflect the interests of local people. This could include after-school clubs, reading groups, creative sessions, and family events. Activities like bingo, knitting, and poetry groups may also return, with support offered to the existing users who already make the library a lively community space.
Play Place also wants to encourage local volunteering and will offer free training in areas like First Aid and community engagement for those who help run the library. This will give people the chance to learn new skills and play an active role in supporting the space.
Looking ahead, there are also ideas to create a small café-style area and to modernise parts of the building, making it more comfortable and accessible for all visitors. The library’s art deco charm will be preserved while improvements are made to create a fresh, inviting environment.
Children and families will be at the heart of the new vision, with plans for holiday activities, storytelling sessions, and themed events throughout the year. Play Place also aims to partner with local schools to support young learners with additional opportunities for learning and development.
This new chapter for Shirley Library marks an important moment for the local community. With Play Place at the helm and the support of local people, the library is set to grow as a space for learning, sharing, and coming together.
Your feedback is important to us – please use the link or QR code below to complete our simple and quick survey, we want to hear your ideas!
For more information, contact:
[info@playplace.org](mailto:info@playplace.org) | [www.playplace.org](http://www.playplace.org)