Welcome to Liskeard Library.
Liskeard Library is a gorgeous Grade 2 listed Passmore Edwards library in the centre of Liskeard. It is leading the charge in keeping the love of books and reading alive. It has one of the hardest working book stocks in the county and library use is at a 10 year high! However, it is so much more than simply a place to borrow books - it’s a growing creative and community hub in the heart of town. Fully refurbished and reimagined by Real Ideas, the library blends learning, community, digital access and co-working with the comfort and welcome of a much-loved local space. Whether you're popping in to browse, joining a workshop, booking a meeting room, or simply having a coffee — Liskeard Library is open to all.
Library
Real Ideas is proud to partner with Cornwall Council to deliver the amazing Cornwall Council Library Service. Books, sheet music, blood pressure monitors and more can be reserved from anywhere in the county (and beyond) brought to Liskeard for you to enjoy as part of this amazing modern Library service provided by Cornwall Council. You can join for free, and you don’t need to bring any ID to do it. Whether you want to read, listen to audio books online or browse the world’s press, you can do this with your library card. It is truly a marvelous service. Full details of the Cornwall Council Library Service can be found here on the Cornwall Council Library website.
Cafe
Our vibrant cafe is a great place to come and enjoy a drink, some cake or a light lunch. Our simple but delicious menu aims to be easy on the planet and the wallet and we have everything from refreshing fruit smoothies, sourdough toasties, warming homemade soups and bowls and a variety of light bites. A children's menu is also available. Our cafe is a light, airy, community focused space in the heart of Liskeard which is perfect for a meet-up and a chat.
Community Services
Liskeard Library is a welcoming space offering free and low-cost services for all ages. Enjoy family-friendly activities like Rhyme Time, access public computers or borrow laptops, and use our easy-to-follow printing, scanning, and photocopying services. We also offer digital support to help with devices and online tasks. Real Ideas’ Pathways programmes provide opportunities to build digital skills, explore employability, and get involved through volunteering. You’ll also find community banking, child health clinics, and wellbeing support for young people—all under one roof.
Our Community
Liskeard Library has a vibrant community of people delivering and performing a range of interesting activity from within our building. From our regular performers at our monthly spoken word and poetry night - Live and Later – to our book and play reading groups, our very knowledgeable quiz teams and then the wonderful people who buy tickets to everything we do because they want to identify with this building. Liskeard Library is regularly home to a broad group of people who find their place here. We also have some fixed residencies.
Meeting rooms, and more...
Liskeard Library offers flexible spaces perfect for meetings, workshops, performances, and community events. Our meeting room and studio are equipped with screens and can be arranged in boardroom or theatre style—or cleared entirely to suit your needs. For larger gatherings, our upstairs workspace accommodates up to 70 people and can be configured in various layouts. Whether you're planning a team session, creative activity, or public event, we have a space to suit.
What's on at Liskeard Library.
Check out our exciting and varied programme of events. From after school clubs to workshops and from quizzes to theatre and talks/performance, we have something for everyone.
Our regular Tuesday code club but this time with a project to conquer
Our regular code club is back. This time with a project to work on!
Our new Thursday code club for girls and those who identify as non-binary.
Taking inspiration from the Bizarre
A festive inn, a chilling murder, and Charles Dickens on the case. Join us for food, fun & mystery at the library this Christmas!
An introduction to the wonderful world of Journaling via a variety of different journaling subjects.
Wrap up your Words: writing a gift for a friend, family member - or for yourself.
Poetry and Spoken Word night with open mic, support and headline performances.
A perfect morning of quality time for those that love the festivities and would like to find a way to capture those precious memories.
Our regular Tuesday coding club. This time with a project to complete!
Free workspace available
We have a large airy workspace which is free for anyone to come and use throughout the day. The workspace is open to anyone and you can't reserve or guarantee a seat. However it is free and so is the wifi so feel free to pop and down and work, study or read at one of our desks.
Contact
Need to get in touch? Here are our contact details to get in touch with the right people.
To make an enquiry about your library account, or to speak to someone at Liskeard Library, please call the Cornwall Council switchboard on 0300 1234 111 and ask to be put through to Liskeard Library.
5 Barras Street, Liskeard, PL14 6AB
FAQs
We have tried to include all of our FAQs here but if there’s something you don’t see – please let us know via our contact form.
Have new jobs been created at Liskeard Library?
Cornwall Council has redeployed the library staff from Luxstowe House to enable the continued delivery of library services in other local towns. Real Ideas has created new jobs, bringing new employment opportunities.
Do you run Rhyme Time children's music and singing sessions?
Yes, Rhyme Time runs on Thursdays at 10.30am. There will also be a range of children's activities running from the library.
What has changed during the refurbishment?
Extensive work has taken place to improve the fabric and infrastructure of the building, including plumbing, drainage, electrics, heating, sound insulation, windows, doors and floors. Many of the previously inaccessible spaces have been opened up, including removing an old caretaker's flat to create a large activity space, and demolishing part of a former extension to create a new courtyard. The flat roof above a new kitchen has been reinforced, giving space for a deck with views across the skyline of Liskeard. Downstairs, floor levels have been adjusted, improving access, and creating flexible, multi-purpose spaces for co-working, children's activities, reading, events and more.
Do you accept cash?
We operate a cashless system for our café and events and only accept card payments.
Can I buy coffee/food at the library?
A range of drinks, cakes, and light bites will be available during café opening hours.
What else is going to be happening at the library?
There will be a wide range of activities for people of all ages and interests, including storytelling, creative writing, VR experiences, Lego robotics, plus evening events, and more. There will be space to work, a meeting room for hire, training opportunities, and access to digital technology.
Can I use a computer and are there printing facilities?
There is a computer available to use and printing facilities will be available for a small fee.
Can I still order books from other libraries?
Yes, you can order books that are not in stock at Liskeard Library and you will receive an email to let you know when these books can then be collected from Liskeard Library.