To the Residents of King’s Lynn,

The Carnegie Library building holds a special place in the hearts and memories of our community. It was Andrew Carnegie’s generous gift to the people of King’s Lynn, intended to serve our town as a public space of knowledge and culture for generations.

Like many of you, we at The Margery Kempe Trust were saddened by the decision to move the library service to a new location. We understand the deep connection many residents feel to the building as a library. This is why we created our organisation to save the Carnegie for the people of King’s Lynn whilst honouring its literary heritage and keeping it open to the local community.

TMKT envisioned sensitively restoring the Carnegie Library in collaboration with local builders and tradespeople, to create a warm, welcoming space dedicated to empowering every resident – young and old – to discover, craft and share their stories, foster connection and creative health, and celebrate our town’s unique heritage as the birthplace of English life writing. 

Unfortunately, serious questions hang over the process Norfolk County Council used to choose the organisation to take over the building.

Was it fair? Evidence suggests one applicant secured a £10,000 grant specifically for this project, reportedly with Council knowledge months before the application process even opened in July last year. Did this significant head start and considerable  material advantage potentially skew the entire assessment process?

Was it transparent? Contradictory information surrounds key documents related to this £10,000 grant. Norfolk County Council allegedly knew about the funding at least four months before the decision was announced, possibly earlier, so why was it kept secret from the other community groups and more importantly the public?

Was the outcome predetermined? The alleged early advantage casts doubt on whether the application process was genuinely open or if the decision was effectively made behind closed doors.

Andrew Carnegie gifted this building to us – the people of King's Lynn. We have a right to demand that decisions about its future are made with integrity. 

We want Norfolk County Council to conduct a thorough and transparent review of the decision-making process for the disposal of the Carnegie Library. We want answers to questions raised about fairness, transparency, and the contradictory evidence. We must respect the legacy of Carnegie’s gift and put the people of King's Lynn first.

We stopped the Saddlebow incinerator. We secured the QEH rebuild promise. We can make a difference when we unite. It’s time for the people of King’s Lynn to make our voices heard again. If you believe in fairness and transparency and want to ensure that our heritage buildings are handled properly, please add your name. Demand a fair process for the Carnegie library’s future. Sign the petition and stand up for Lynn.

About The Margery Kempe Trust

Everyone has a story. Based in King’s Lynn, The Margery Kempe Trust is a charitable organisation that celebrates the power of personal stories by making life writing and storytelling accessible to all. Inspired by the legacy of Lynn’s very own Margery Kempe, a 15th-century mystic and author who wrote the first autobiography in the English language, we champion our town’s unique heritage as the birthplace of English life writing. We empower and amplify the diverse voices of King's Lynn and beyond by supporting people to discover, craft, and share their unique stories through written, audio, visual, and digital media. By embracing all forms of life writing and storytelling, from memoir to oral history to TikTok, TMKT promotes creativity, well-being, and connection. The organisation offers diverse and innovative workshops, programmes, events, and an annual festival celebrating the transformative power of personal stories.