Campaigners have unveiled ambitious plans to safeguard the future of Upper Norwood Library, which is also set to receive increased funding from Croydon Council.

The Upper Norwood Library Trust hopes to turn the beleaguered Westow Hill building, forced to axe staff and opening hours following budget cuts last year, into a community hub. 

It was last night boosted by Councillor Tim Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, announcing an additional £47,500 a year funding for the library at a public meeting.

The increase reverses part of a £114,000 cut imposed by the former Conservative administration last year on the library, which is funded jointly by Croydon and Lambeth councils. 

The trust, which was established in 2012 with the aim of taking over the library's running, has also asked the councils to hand over the reins by the December. 

Speaking at the meeting at Upper Norwood Methodist Church, co-chair Emma Sharville said the trust had reached provisional agreement with Croydon and Lambeth about taking over the library and was looking to find new revenue streams to further secure its future.

Your Local Guardian:

Assistant librarian Fiona Byers reads poetry with a child on Burns Night

She said: "We want to library to stay a library, in Crystal Palace, and be professionally run by staff librarians. But what we also want to do is turn it into a community hub."

The trust is considering renting out spaces for community use, offering education facilities and hosting career advisers for young people.

It will also seek grants to top up its revenue, which currently stands at £245,000 a year from the councils plus up to £35,000 in rentals and sales.

Ms Sharville said: "These are big plans but in this economic climate we need that to protect against future uncertainty. It's really a pivotal time for the library right now and some big decisions are being made."

Lambeth Council currently spends around £175,000 a year on the library, with Croydon Council paying £75,000. 

Coun Godfrey pledged Croydon would match Lambeth's funding over the next four years, but both he and Gipsy Hill councillor Matthew Bennett warned library budgets could take a hit in the future.

Coun Godfrey said: "I have been a big supporter of Upper Norwood Library for many years and continue to be, but it is right to sound a note of caution over budgets."

Five of the library's 17 staff took redundancy last year redundancy last year following the cuts, which also reduced its opening days from five to three.