Southwark Council’s Stirling Prize winning Peckham Library opened in 2000, with in excess of 5 million visits to date. The iconic library has recently been refreshed to install a RFID / self service as part of Southwark libraries’ ongoing modernisation programme. The interior layout, furniture and fittings also needed rethinking as technology has had a major effect on the use of the spaces and enthusiastic use was beginning to show. Building on our previous success with Southwark at the refurbished John Harvard Library, AMA was commissioned to help the council devise new layouts and select new furniture particularly for study areas to improve and increase the spaces and facilities for the library users, and to incorporate the new scanning process.
The whole project took less than 6 months from start to finish, and has already made a big impact. The revitalised library reopened to the public in October 2012, and there has been a very positive response with a 16% increase in issues and 80% of transactions completed on the new RFID self service terminals during the first month of service since the refurbishment.
Pam Usher, the Libraries Arts and Heritage Manager for London Borough of Southwark, remarked, ‘The finished library looks fantastic. It all came together as we envisaged. Thanks again to AMA for all the advice and inspiration on this scheme.’
Images © 2012 Mike Allport, LB Southwark
© 2010 AMA Alexi Marmot Associates
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