About Us

Built in 1913 in the traditional Carnegie design, Earlsdon library really is in the heart of the community. Sited in a prominent position and next to the local primary school, it is a much loved local landmark.

When threatened with closure, and thanks to the commitment of volunteers, it became a registered charity in September 2018 (1180063). It is managed and run by our Board of Trustees and a dedicated team of volunteers

Our Board of Trustees

Julie Rubidge (Chair) read more

Julie’s first post was in Willenhall branch library and after having a family she studied at Warwick University; thus beginning a career in education. She has taught across age ranges, was Deputy headteacher at a large primary school, took secondment to act as Advisory teacher for travelling children and taught post graduate students at Warwick university. A qualified anti-racism trainer, she has worked mainly in diverse settings across the West Midlands.

Rita Adams (Vice Chair) read more

Rita spent virtually all her career as an HR manager at Coventry University, working across a wide range of areas. As a volunteer at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum she undertook research into the role of women in the early days of the motor industry. She is co-editor of a book of recollections of early lives working in car families, designed to support people with memory loss.

Ann Wheatley (Treasurer) read more

Ann began her career as a bilingual secretary in the engineering and construction industries. After a ten year break to raise her family she spent more than twenty years as a school administrator before retiring in 2015.

Kim Mullard read more

Kim is Director of of Operations for a national charity. She has two decades of experience in the charity sector, including grant fundraising project management, finance, governance and human resources.

Zara Turner read more

Coventry born and bred, Zara has lived in Earlsdon with her husband and daughter for twelve years. Embedded in the community she runs an Earlsdon based pet care company, attends St. Barbara’s church and was Chairperson of the Earlsdon Festival. She believes passionately that the library is the heart of the community; a place to escape to, have a cuppa, meet friends, hold meetings and even read a book or two.

Brian Fawcus read more

Brian’s teenage years involved regular visits to the library to satisfy his obsession with the works of Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and other masters of science fiction. Retired since 2019, he now reads mainly non-fiction and has become a staunch advocate of the wider role of the library as a community hub.

Sandra Shipton read more

Originally from a small Devon village, Sandra has now lived in Earlsdon For fifty years. She has a background in Education and worked in Coventry schools and the Local Authority for the whole of her professional life. She has a deep commitment to community development and social inclusion and sees the role of the local library as being pivotal in this.

Jak Lynch read more

Jak Lynch joined the Board of Trustees in September 2025. Jak lives in Earlsdon and has a background in community and youth work and community development. He has wide experience in supporting voluntary organisations to grow, develop, and deliver services.

In 2017 Coventry City Council made the decision to designate Earlsdon library as ‘community or close’. By 2018 Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library (ECCL) had become a registered charity (no.1180063) and was tasked with transforming a council library into a thriving library and community and cultural hub.

Understanding the need to think outside the box and reinvent ourselves as a thriving enterprise, we looked to the building itself for inspiration. Beneath a century of modifications, the symmetry of the original building could be recognised and it was this which inspired us to change into the beautiful space we have created. Grateful thanks go to local property consultant Alan Denyer for guiding us through this process and, with his expertise, upcycling shelving into the beautiful mobile units we have today.

Our lovely library now revels in her Edwardian charms. The symmetry has been revealed, original features rediscovered and brought out of hiding. The original Reading Room lettering was hidden behind book shelves, but is now revealed for all to see and is the model for our new signage.

With a focus on inclusion and reaching out to the wider community, particularly those suffering both physical and digital exclusion, we offer a wide range of activities, free of charge. From Creative Kindness on Mondays to the Digital skills drop in on Monday afternoons, we try to support people’s mental and physical health; Storytime, Rhymetime and Saturday activities such as craft and Lego, offer carers and children a calm yet stimulating place to come and relax and read.

We are proud to be the last safe space on the high street and are a registered Place of Welcome – offering hot drinks and biscuits free of charge and enabling visitors to stay all day to use our facilities, including access to toilets, computers, books or the chance to just simply be.

Checkout our Events page to see everything we offer.

There may be times when our service does not meet your expectations. If so please click on this link to view our complaints procedure. Click HERE

To find out more about Andrew Carnegie and a poem by Antony Owen (a poet raised in Earlsdon) and a strong supporter of ECCL, , Click HERE