Southwark Council’s libraries are officially the best in London, after the borough scooped a prestigious award with judges praising its campaign to encourage local people to discover the pleasure of visiting their local library.
Southwark Libraries, which has 12 branches in Southwark, has been named the London winner of the British Book Awards 2026 Library of the Year prize.
It is one of eight libraries and library authorities from across the UK to be declared regional and county winners, out of a shortlist of 42.
Judges selected organisations which engaged communities “in meaningful, lasting ways”.
The council launched its Be at Southwark Libraries campaign in October last year, encouraging residents to visit their local library and re-discover the joy of getting lost in a book.
The council said in a Facebook post: “From ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) lessons, to Rhyme Time, to finding a quiet corner to escape to a different world – our libraries are here for our residents.
“Since launching the campaign, we’ve seen a sustained rise in memberships and loans, and a growing sense of shared pride in these brilliant public spaces.”
As part of the National Year of Reading public libraries will also be receiving a £150,000 funding boost. A total of £5,000 will be split between the five regional winners in England, which includes Southwark.
Southwark Libraries has 12 branches: Blue Anchor Library (South Bermondsey). John Harvard Library (Borough), Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library (Walworth Road), Una Marson Library (Aylesbury Estate), Brandon Library (Kennington), Camberwell Library, Peckham Library, Nunhead Library, Grove Vale Library (East Dulwich), Dulwich Library, Kingswood Library and Canada Water Library.
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Councillor Ellie Cumbo, Cabinet Member for Parks and Culture, said: “We’re thrilled to be named the regional winners of the British Book Awards 2026, Library of the Year. It’s a fantastic recognition of our ‘To Be’ campaign, which inspired more residents to rediscover their local library, with Canada Water Library alone welcoming over 150 new members during the campaign launch. Overall visits have risen dramatically, and we’re on track for around 1.6 million visits this year, up from about 1.4 million last year.
“We’ve worked hard to reimagine what libraries can be, transforming them into inclusive community spaces that reflect the changing needs of local people. From traditional book lending to theatre spaces, cafés, banking hubs and our popular Library of Things borrowing service, there’s something for everyone. Our libraries also have a thriving digital offer, from free Wi?Fi and public computers to e?book lending and online resources, helping residents stay connected, learn new skills and enjoy reading in whatever way suits them best.
“While many libraries across the country have sadly closed, Southwark continues to invest and innovate. From the opening of the Una Marson Library on Aylesbury Estate to major upgrades at Dulwich and Brandon, we see libraries as an integral part of community and will continue to prioritise them”.
