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
Rita Adams (Vice Chair) read more
Ann Wheatley (Treasurer) read more
Kim Mullard read more
Zara Turner read more
Brian Fawcus read more
Sandra Shipton read more
In order to secure a lease from Coventry City Council it was necessary to reimagine the library layout to provide a multi-use community space and become a cultural hub; able to host events and rent space in order to provide an income and pay our running costs. Inspired by the potential of the building, a local businessman, Alan Denyer, worked with the trustees to reinvent Earlsdon Library into Earlsdon Carnegie Community library: satisfying the necessary criteria and enabling us to move forward
Understanding the need to think outside the box and reinvent ourselves as a thriving enterprise, Alan looked to the building itself for inspiration. Beneath a century of modifications, he recognised the hidden beauty of the building and was the creativity behind our successful reinvention; giving freely of his expertise and craftmanship and upcycling wherever possible.
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 Fridays, we try to support people’s mental and physical health; Storytime, Rhymetime and Saturday activities such as Gamezone, 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
"A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold rainy island, they are the only sheltered spaces where you are not a consumer but a citizen instead. "
Caitlin Moran