Cheers Rachael, that’s much appreciated:-)
How about cook books? I might do a cull.
If you have any spare Jason that would be great x
I have an assortment of books you are very welcome to.
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If anybody would like to volunteer at the library starting from October, we are having a meeting of volunteers tomorrow evening (Thursday) at Louise House at 7.30pm and again on Saturday morning at 11am.
so far we have just over 100 volunteers on our list, which is incredible, but we really would still like more, so that we are able to run a totally awesome community library.
We would particularly welcome a couple of people with IT hardware and network skills to help ensure all those cogs are moving in the machines 
come along tomorrow or saturday or get in touch by PM or email michael@fhsoc.com
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Yes please 
Lewisham Council will be closing the library on Monday 10th October.
There will be a two week transition period before we can reopen on Monday 24th!
Amazing turnout and feedback from lots of locals at our first meet & greet volunteers event tonight!
We’ll be taking all on board & loved the amount of community input!
Thanks to all that joined us & sorry we couldn’t make the SE23.Life Meet Up tonight because of this, but sure we’ll all make the next one
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What on earth are they doing for 2 weeks??? Reading the electricity meter? Taking down the council services posters? Nicking the light bulbs and all the 50 Shades books??? Cleaning the staff room fridge??
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The main library floor is in a good state of repair, but the upstairs rooms have not been able to be used for years and so are largely full of stored items. They will take a fair amount of emptying, and there is only one narrow staircase to get things out. There are fixed units that will need removing as well as just stored furniture, paperwork and err… junk. There will need to be electrical work and plumbing in at least one room (the former staff room that will no longer be). The emptied rooms will then need decorating and re-filling with new fixtures and fittings for the new users. The council also need to strip out the old IT and either wipe or replace it. The council will also be providing some vital training during the closed period. And although you were joking about the meters, I learned today that after one previous handover, the gas transfer was not done properly and the new team running the library had their gas supply cut off and meter removed, because the council had not paid their final bill. Everyone has hopefully learned from past mistakes and we’re hoping to make sure the transfer goes smoothly. I’m going to count the light bulbs first though, just in case.
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Don’t know what the hell is happening in the first week Andy, but think it’s taking out stuff storred in the upstairs rooms etc,
We will be taking it on from the 17th & will be going full out on painting the upstairs for new tenants & so much more on a shoestring to open on 24th as us.
Our crowdfundier will be live soon!
All help in anyway is more than welcome.
And we would love feedback from all!
Best as always
So I guess it would be good to return our books before the 10th?!
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I’ll be raising this next week, but I can’t see how anyone can possibly be fined for returning books late if the library is closed. Will have an answer by Tuesday evening and be posting it here, on social media etc
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This is a really scary time for us as we need to prove ourselves now!
We want to deliver the best service we can & want too.
We’ve never done this before but know we can,
TBH I personally am scared shitless because we will be judged by our friends and neighbours, but know we can deliver xx
Please give us a chance before judging us.
I know we can do it
P x
That makes me feel really sad that peeps have to return books early xx
Pauline it’s fine, I wasn’t complaining at all, I was just thinking it might be helpful to the new staff if the books are returned now, we’ve had them long enough anyway! I for one really appreciate everything you guys are doing. X
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Thanks Jane xx
Just to confirm, I have had a written notification from Lewisham Council to say that all books will have their time extended by two weeks, so no one will be fined for a late return unless they are at least two weeks past their due return date.
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Our library press release is being worked on now, there was a meeting today with Colman Getty who are working on this with us for free!
If anyone on here would like our press release or knows any direct useful contacts we could share this with then please let us know
The library is now closed for the time being!
Lewisham Council will be using the next week to clear out their belongings we don’t need and we will be in from Monday 17th to prepare for reopening on Monday 24th October.
if anyone would like to rent office or studio space please get in contact, we have a waiting list but we are giving locals first refusal and there is a viewing next week www.fhlibrary.co.uk
Please support us either by our crowdfunder or becoming a “Friend Of Forest Hill Library” all info for both is on our website above.
We want to deliver the most awesome community library we possibly can and have massive ambitions for this so all help is much appreciated. The more we have the more we can do AND we want to do a lot!
In the meantime if anyone wants to talk to us in person you can find me at my shop anytime or ask for @Simon @TheArchieParker or email @Michael michael@fhsoc.com or simply reply here with anything you want to ask us.
I’m honestly super excited because I can’t wait to try and make our new library amazing, but I’m also super scared because I know we will be judged so please tell us any concerns you may have so we can address them.
We have a meeting tomorrow evening so all feedback is much appreciated
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