Welcome to our Website

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Friends of Cobbett Road Library (FCRL) is an informal group of people of all ages who meet at monthly intervals in the library. FCRL initially came into being to protect a greatly valued community asset and members set about publicising their cause in the local newspaper, putting posters in their windows. Since then the FCRL and Cobbett Road Library have gone from strength to strength organising events, activities and, with Library staff, making the library the centre of a friendly and lively local community.

News Flash

Macmillan Afternoon Tea
Friday September 29th 2023

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Although Cobbett Road Library is not yet back in operation, the Council has encouraged us to make use of it where this is appropriate.  We have taken advantage of this opportunity to resume our involvement in Macmillan Cancer Support's Coffee Morning. As always, instead of doing the obvious and adding another morning opportunity, we are hosting a session in the afternoon.   If you are free, please drop in for a drink, a munch and a chat.  We're well provided with tea, coffee and squash, and milk will be laid on, but any donations of cakes or biscuits would be welcome.  You can download an A4 poster, or an A4 sheet to cut up into 4 A6 flyers to publicise the event.

Southampton Council still hasn't selected a new operator

The Library could be back in operation this summer
As reported on the Council Website, by the Echo and on bitternepark.info, on March 8 last year an information pack was made available to organisations wanting to operate Cobbett. It is not known how many bids were submitted, but currently the Council is considering two proposals - the latest development is that those two organisations are working together on a joint proposal.

Campaigns, news and updates

Library service was provided by  SCiA Group ​as part of their operation of
Cobbett Hub & Library​ between 2017 and January 2021. What was originally the "Save YOUR Library" page on this website is now called "Campaigning 2011 to 2016", and has details of who has been operating the Library from June 4, and how the change from Council operation came about.  We may need a new "Save YOUR Library" page! 

For "What's On" information (yes, some things DO happen during Covid lockdown), check the News and Events page.

If you would like to keep informed, Click here to register for the Friends of Cobbett Road Library Newsletter. Also like our facebook page and we keep can you posted. 

Southampton Libraries during Covid-19 Pandemic

Other libraries in Southampton operated by the Council (including Bitterne and Portswood Libraries) continue to be accessible during limited hours, for returns of borrowed books and collection of books reserved online.  Some services require pre-booking.  For full information, including days and hours of opening, see the City Libraries webpage.

Find Cobbett Road Library

There is no car parking available at Cobbett Hub - the nearest on-street area without parking restrictions is about 150 yards away in Cobbett Road.

Bus services to and from the City centre are frequent - First Bus/City Red 8, BlueStar 3, 16 & 18, Xelabus X10 all stop nearby.  Follow this link to Google Maps showing the location of their stops and Bitterne Railway Station.
The Library's postcode is SO18 1HL, but online maps show that location some distance from building.  We could offer latitude and longitude, but a more user-friendly system is What3Words, where the Library entrance is coded hired.solo.lace and the end of the no-parking yellow line in Cobbett Road is exists.agrees.broke (pretty much where online maps show the postcode "pin").  Some in-car GPS sets can use What3Words locations.


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