Staff and customers celebrated the opening of their new Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre at their official opening celebrations on Saturday 26th January, with special guests and local professional storyteller, Nicky Rafferty.
Edwinstowe Library re-opened its doors to the public on Thursday 3rd January following an extensive refurbishment. As a result of consultation with the local community, the library is now called Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre.
As part of the consultation process, the public helped Inspire who deliver culture, learning and libraries on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council to decide on the following changes to the library;
- Creation of an accessible customer toilet
- Increased range and quantity of book stock
- Creation off a meeting room with refreshment making facilities
- New energy-efficient heating and lighting
- New shelving, furnishings and decoration
- An extensive programme of learning courses
- Relocation of children’s library to the ground floor
- Tea and coffee available to purchase
- Revised opening hours including removal of lunchtime closures
The library opening times will be: Tuesday 9.30am to 6.30pm; Thursday 9.30am to 1.00pm; Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm; Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm.
Peter Gaw, Chief Executive at Inspire, said: “Edwinstowe follows a long list of libraries refurbished by the County Council over the last 10 years and benefits from all that we have learnt on how to make our libraries fit for the needs local communities. We are really pleased with the involvement the local community and hope this will continue as we develop the service”.
Ian Bond, Inspire Learning Manger added: “I am excited by the excellent new facilities at the Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre and delighted by the opportunity to showcase Inspire’s fantastic new learning offer for young people and adults that will help learners to gain new skills, make friends and improve their health and wellbeing”.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee chairman, Councillor John Cottee said: “It’s great to see this library re-opening its doors — it’s an important hub for the community, so I hope the various improvements and the library’s fresh new look will make for an even better environment for local people to read and learn.”