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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A fun-filled, full on Fun Palace kicked off our October month of 10th anniversary celebrations. Thr Human Jukebox was a hit all day, out Misinformation Men kept everyone guessing and badges, coil pots, mosaics, and seed bomb were being made all over Plus we unveiled our huge community mosaic.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

We’ve extended our opening hours on Saturdays. Yes, we’re experimenting with longer hours until Christmas. You can now use the library on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. The new hours are in response to requests. We hope you enjoy having more time. Let us know how it goes for you.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

This evening at our place -from 7pm - it’s the official opening of the new Gallery #SE6 display by Emily Brand. It’s also the launch of Emily’s book of A Year at Beckenham Place Park. Oh, and there a bar for drinks and nibbles. It’s going to be hot! Make that cool! A bit of both, probably. 😎

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

It’s time for #CorbFest 2026, a growing community festival, running for the 5th year, celebrating everything that makes our neighbourhood special. The 3 day, 5 venue event showcases local businesses, artists, makers, and community organisations, with a focus on supporting and shopping local.

CorbFest 2026 from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July is at:

- Torridon Convenience Store
- Corbett Community Library
- Abbotshall Healthy Living Centre
- St Andrews Church and Hall
- Mi & More.

Map of the CorbFest area and hosting venues.

Events at our place - Corbett Community Library - for our 10th anniversary year celebrations in October 2026 include:

- Corbett Community Fun Palace on Saturday 3 October

- Catford Arts Trail on Sat 10 and Sun 11 October

- Disco Under The Dome - Sat 24 October

Heritage Talk - The Public Good - A contextual history of the Catford Community Library on Wed 28 October

Art Auction - Fri 30 October.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

We’re a registered cool space! Come in for cold water, shade, air con + fans, and enjoy our space, books, free to use computers, or jus take a break Mon, Tues + Thurs 9-5:30 + Sat 10-1. Wed = Free mosaic workshops, 11-3 + 3:30-5:30 so come on in. Cool Spaces map: apps.london.gov.uk/cool-spaces/

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

FREE art and nature workshop on Saturday morning - 9 May. You will explore how nature can improve wellbeing, while creating an experimental photography piece to take home. For ages 20+. The booking link is here: www.eventbrite.com/e/art-and-na... #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Happy New Year. 2026 is National Year of Reading. And as Lewisham Adult Reading Challenge continues we’ve compiled some recommendations from our volunteers & staff + the books you've chosen as Book of the Month throughout 2025! Why not follow a recommendation and read something new today?

Some reading recommendations from our volunteers and staff:

The Secret of Golden Island by Natash Farrant

What you are looking for is in the library by Michito Aoyama

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Some Thing In The Water by Catherine Steadman

You Are Her by David Nicholls

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Biblio Maniac by Robin Ince

Kick Flip Volume 1 by L D Lapinski and Logan Hanning

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

Conundrum by Jan Morris

Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans

The top books chosen by library users in 2025 as Book of the Month are:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Dork Diaries Spectacular Superstar by Rachel Renee Russell

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
Babel by R F Kuang

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick

The Lightless Sky by Gulwali

Passarlay with Nadene Ghouri

The Little One by Linda La Plante

The Explorer by Katherine Rundell

Across the Void by S K Vaughn

Miss Marple’s Final Case by Agatha Christie

Surfing the Himalayas – a Spiritual Adventure by Frederick Lenz

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

118 years ago today, St Andrew’s Day, 30 Nov 1907, our library opens to serve the people of #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham 1907 also saw the serving of the first school meals and the start of London’s first metered taxi service. Come in for more knowledge, fun, etc

The site for the Archibald Corbett Library was formerly tennis courts, and was donated by Archibald Corbett. The £4,500 construction cost was donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

“… presumably would have made good use of the new Library which opened in Torridon Road in 1907. The local council had wanted to build one for several years, and Corbett was willing to donate land, but they were short of funds so it wasn’t until Andrew Carnegie – world famous philanthropist and serial builder of around 3,000 libraries – stepped in with a donation of £4,500 that it finally came into existence. Sadly for the estate’s tennis fans it was the recreation ground that Corbett offered up for the new building: maybe he figured the new Mountsfield Park over the other side of Brownhill Road was close enough to provide for healthy exercise.”

Extract from the history of the Corbett Estate on the Corbett Society website - see: https://thecorbettsociety.org.uk/the-estates/catford-hither-green/

Photo by Paul de Zylva, library volunteer, of a red Jaguar E-type on the road in front of the Corbett Community Library, known to many as Torridon Library on the junction of Torridon Road and Sandhurst Road in Catford, Lewisham, London, SE6.

The commemorative plaque for the 30th November 1907 opening of the Archibald Corbett Library can be seen high on the right hand side wall as you enter the foyer of the library.

The library was opened by Mrs ECB Philpott, who was the wife of the vicar of nearby St Andrews’s Church which opened in 1904.

View of the library from the top deck of a London bus at the top of Sandhurst Road.

It’s an odd thing that even from at that height, our magnificent dome is hard to see.

Come in to see it from below.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Come and join us for an evening of seasonal entertainment on Sunday 14 December, including music, magic and more! Tickets cost £15 per person and include a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine! Scan the QR code on the image or follow this link to book: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/lon...

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

We have a limited service on Saturday 29 November as we have our Christmas Fair.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

You lucky people. Yes, it’s the Corbett Christmas: - Mon 24 to Sat 29 Nov - it’s the Christmas Tree Festival at St Andrew’s Church - Sat 29 Nov - Corbett Christmas Fair at our place & at St Andrew’s Church Hall - Sun 30 Nov - Abbotshall Healthy Lifestyle Centre. #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13

Page one of the leaflet of Corbett Community Christmas events 2025 lists the Christmas Tree Festival, the Corbett Christmas Fair, and Christmas at Abbotshall.

Page two of the Corbett Community Christmas leaflets shows details for the:

- the Christmas Tree Festival from 24th to 29th November from 10am to 5pm each day at St Andrew’s Church Hall SE6 1XD

and

- the Corbett Christmas Fair from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 29th November at two venues: the Corbett Community Library at 103 Torridon Road SE6 1RQ and St Andrew’s Church Hall SE6 1XD.

The third page of the leaflet details Christmas at Abbotshall on Sunday 30 November from 10am to 4pm including Santa’s Grotto, and Christmas Tree Sales.

The fourth and final page of the leaflet sets out how to order a Christmas Tree from Abbotshall Healthy Lifestyle Centre.

Order online at Abbotshallhlc dot org forward slash Christmas hyphen trees

abbotshallhlc.org.uk/christmas-trees

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

The local Dinosaurs came to our Halloween event. Think they were lost (in time).

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

The Clue in the Haunted Library - hmmm will Barbie find clues at our Halloween Event? Crafts, activities, tasty treats, and witches’ brew on Friday 31 October, from 5pm to 8pm. Drop in at any time. All ages welcome. Entry for a £ donation to the community library. #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

It’s the 10th #CatfordArtsTrail this weekend - Saturday 11 + Sunday 12 October, 11am - 5pm. We’re venue 18 and there’s a cluster of other venues nearby to check out. #Catford #SE6 #Lewisham

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Spookiest night of the year at our place: Fri 31 October, 5-8pm. Crafts, activities, tasty treats & witches' brew. Drop in on your way round trick-or-treating, show us your awesomely scary costumes, and see how the library transforms after dark! All ages welcome, make a donation to enter.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Aharr me hearties! It’s story time again! Join legendary pirate Jacky and her lucky parrot this Saturday 4 October at 11.15am for an hour of pirate-themed storytelling and craft! Landlubbers of all ages welcome!

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Say hello to our newest customers - the doors are big enough, we're sure they'll fit in (if they're tidy)! Now we're busy wondering what police horses read...

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

There's a double rainbow leading into the library! Sadly we have no actual gold, but we have plenty of gold and gold-themed books (and as we all know, all books are a kind of treasure anyway!)! Come and have a browse and maybe take something home!

Photo of Corbett Community Library with a double rainbow arcing directly into it

Pile of books on a table. Titles are:
- Crusader Gold by David Gibbins
- The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog Goes For Gold! by Jeremy Strong
- Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King
- Sisters of Gold by Annie Murray
- The Prisoner's Gold by Chris Kuzneski
- A Storm of Swords II: Blood and Gold by George R.R. Martin
- Secret Kingdom: Leopard's Gold by Jenny Nimmo
- Noah's Gold by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
- King's Gold by Michael Jecks

Photo of books on a table. All of them have golden spines. Titles are:
- All the Rivers by Dorit Rabinyan
- Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
- A Victorian Story: Son of the Circus
- Classic Football Heroes: Keane by Matt and Tom Oldfield
- Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher
- Shoe Wars by Liz Pichon

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

It's National Crime Reading Month! Come and read a summer mystery from our collection - if you dare to cross the crime scene tape…

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

It’s our Spring Makers’ Market & VE Day Celebration. 26 stalls with makers, bakers, face painters, raffle, 40’s music, jerk chicken, cakes, tuck shop, coffee shop… 4pm - live 40’s singing with Ros. 4.30pm - Raffle. St Andrews Church Hall has a ‘Forgotten Treasures Sale’ with extra craft stalls.

On Saturday 3rd May we look forward to welcoming you here for our annual Spring Makers Market and VE Day Celebration.

We have 26 stalls outside and in with artists, makers and bakers, face painting, a raffle, 40’s music, jerk chicken, cakes, tuck shop, our lovely outdoor coffee shop and more!

We love hosting artists here and sharing the work of the talented people that live in and around the Corbett Estate.

We also have some live 1940’s singing with local, talented resident Ros at 4pm, followed by the raffle at 4.30pm.

NOTE: Our usual services will be extremely limited on Saturday 3 May. There will only be book returns available - no borrowing or computer access.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

On Saturday, also pop along to St Andrews Church Hall (just across the road) for a forgotten treasures sale!

Between 11am and 4pm you can browse pre-loved goods and grab yourselves some treasure - so much is available, from books and clothes to building materials and fat quarters, and anything in between!

They're also hosting overflow stalls from our Spring Makers Market, and between 11-3 will have a pop-up café!

So go along to find yourself some treasure - and why not visit our market too while you're nearby?

At 4pm on Saturday, as part of our Spring Makers Market and VE Day Celebrations, local talent Ros will be singing a selection of 40s hits, followed by the raffle draw at 4:30pm!

Come along and enjoy some fabulous live entertainment!

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Fancy a chat? We’re listening. Just pop into our place for a chat with a trained listener. That’s all. No catch. No hype. No problem. Just pop in for a chat: Mon: 9-11am; 1-5.30pm Tues: 9-10am; 1-5.30pm Wed: 1-5pm Thurs: 9am-5.30pm Sat: 10am-1pm A cuppa awaits. #IWillListen

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

It’s StoryTime at our place on Thursday 10 April from 9.30am to 10am. Interactive story time sessions for under 5s as we read you some of our favourite stories and have a singalong! #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Easter Braiding Workshops at our place: Wednesday 10 April from 2.30pm to 4.30pm: corbettcommunity.org.uk/listing/east... Thursday 11 April from 11am to 1pm: corbettcommunity.org.uk/listing/east... #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Check out everything going on at our place in April. There's something for everyone, so come along and join in.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

FREE - yes, free - events at #Lewisham Libraries in April. Events include a Community Afternoon Tea at our place on Wednesday 9 April from 1pm. Hot drinks, soup, cake, games. A great chance to chat, relax and meet new faces. #DementiaFriendly For more on all libraries.Lewisham.gov.uk/events

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

5 years ago today. Thinking of the 5th anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown, as we closed the library on 19th March 2019 (ahead of the official order) we took this last picture as we shut the front doors. We left free books outside and a family chose from the selection.

As we closed the library on 19th March 2019 (ahead of the official lockdown order) we took this last picture as we shut the front doors.

We left free books outside and a family chose from the selection.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Ooo, Lewisham Libraries are awarded London Library of the Year in the 35th British Book Awards.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Get the picture? The community jigsaw is coming along. Pop in to add to it. Who will put the final piece into place? #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

March events + activities at our place. Pop in for: - Books to borrow / buy - Use copier / computer - IT skills - Yoga Tai Chi Pilates - Storytime - Braiding for girls - Bereavement group - Writing group - Councillors’ Surgery - Free Toilet For more scan QR code or visit linktr.ee/corbettcommunity

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Calling all men! It’s ‘Games Night’ at our place. Join us on Sat 1 March (7-9.30pm) for a FREE evening of games, refreshments and good company. Play your favourite games and meet friends, new and old. Board games, dominoes and cards available. #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE12 #Lewisham

Poster with board games, tumbling dice, etc on a black bag round and large red text announcing ‘Games Night’.

Calling all men!

Join us on Saturday 1st March at 7pm to 9.30pm for a FREE evening of games, refreshments and good company.

Play your favourite games and meet friends, new and old.

Card games, board games and dominoes available.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

On Saturday 22 February Darcel Osei will be running a free information session about the perimenopause! Learn about changes, symptoms, and how to best support yourself through it!

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Join us at the opening night of 50 Years of the Catford Cat: - Our place - 6 to 8pm - Thursday 13 February - Meet and chat with the artists - Drinks available from our bar - Chance to buy cards and prints. #Catford #SE6 #SE13 #Lewisham #catfordcat #artexhibition #GallerySE6 #CorbettCommunity

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Our diary of events for February is packed - and colour-coordinated! Paper copies are available from our front desk. And see our website corbettcommunity.org.uk/listings/cat...

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Our book of the month for February is The Midnight Library by @matthaig.bsky.social! Have you read it? Bonus: If you live locally, why not come and drop a book title in our suggestion box for March's book of the month?

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Warm Welcome Week from Mon 20 To Sun 26 marks the 12 weeks that we and other venues will provide a warm place, and ‘a warm welcome’, in these colder months. We have a dementia friendly Community Afternoon Tea for senior citizens on Wed 22 Jan, from 1 to 3pm. #WarmWelcomeWeek

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

As the year ends, here's our pick of the best books we've read in 2024, chosen by our staff and volunteers! What's your favourite been? Maybe there's something here that interests you... #publibs 📚

6x5 grid of book covers entitled 'Corbett Community Library Books of 2024, Chosen by our staff and volunteers'

Books are: The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon, Winter of the World by Ken Follett, The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassall, Small Things Like This by Claire Keegan, Mr Ma and Son by Lao She, The Trees by Percival Everett, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne, The Fraud by Zadie Smith, Original Sin by P.D. James, Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells, Never by Ken Follett, Whispers in the Sand by Barbara Erskine, Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, The Theory of Everything Else by Dan Schreiber, Sweet Bean Paste by Durien Sukegawa, Jan Morris: Life From Both Sides by Paul Clements, The Great Level by Stella Tillyard, Keeper of the Enchanted Books by Charlie N. Holmberg, Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee, Sweet Pea by C.J. Skuse, Dark Angel by Sally Beauman, 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell, Heaven is So Real! by Choo Thomas, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers, Good Morning Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, First Impressions by Charlie Lovett, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Today - Saturday 14 December - is the last Saturday we’re open until 2025. So get here for your Advent reads and quality bargain books. We’re open on Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th, and Thursday 20th, as usual.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

On a blustery days Winnie the Pooh visits his "thoughtful spot”. Here’s a thought: The Winter reading challenge is back! Sign up and read three books of your choice before 20 Feb 2025 to win an exclusive digital badge and your very own certificate! Head here to sign up: www.wintermini.org.uk

The Winter Mini Challenge begins Sunday 1st December!

The Marvellous Makers are back for another awesome reading challenge.

If you took part in Summer Reading Challenge, welcome back! Keep up your amazing work by adding another reading badge to your belt.

If you are new, hip hip hooray! It’s great to see you here. We hope you have fun reading. Remember, there’s a reading superstar in all of us.

The Challenge starts on 1 December 2024 and ends on 20 February 2025.

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Father Christmas drops in to our Christmas Fair - open until 5pm, today, Saturday 30th November (our 117th birthday!) #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham

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Corbett Community Library @corbettlibrary.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

117 years ago today - St Andrew’s Day, 30 November 1907 - our library opens to serve the people of #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 and #Lewisham borough. Also in 1907: - London’s first metered taxis ran - The first school meals were served. See pics’ ALT text for more.

The library was opened by Mrs ECB Philpott, who was the wife of the vicar of nearby St Andrews Church which open in 1904.

The site for the library, which was donated by Archibald Corbett, had been tennis courts, and the £4,500 cost of construction was donated by Andrew Carnegie.

The commemorative plaque for the 30th November 1907 opening of the Corbett Library can be seen high on the right hand side wall as you enter the foyer of the library.

The front of the Corbett Community Library in 2018. Photograph: Paul de Zylva

Leaflet about the Corbett Community Library and on how to become a Friend of the library and all of the activities and services it provides to the local area.

For more on the library and everything that happens under our splendid dome see: https://corbettcommunity.org.uk

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