Canada Water Library

The government and local councils are closing local libraries as they slash spending in an attempt to create the PM’s, Orwellian ‘Big Society’. Despite this Southwark council have spent £14 million on the excellent Canada Water Library in Rotherhithe on land that was once Surrey Docks.

The inverted pyramid shape is clad in a gold anodised mesh, designed by Piers Gough of CZWGv and is connected directly to Canada Water underground station. It contains a 150 seat theatre, water side café, adult, teenage and children’s library as well as free Wi-Fi and free PC hire.

The library is full of students, parents with their children and people just pleased to be in such a modern, vibrant building where they can read, learn, study or look for new jobs by using the IT services available. Now that’s the real ‘Big Society’ in action.