Literary journey as books move (From Swindon Advertiser)

Literary journey as books move

9:40am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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BOOKS are getting re-shelved as the Old Town library moves location.

The Old Town library started the move from Victoria Road, to it’s new home at the Arts Centre, in Devizes Road yesterday.

The library, which is due to reopen tomorrow, will be open at the same time as the Arts Centre.

It will now be open 40 hours a week from Mondays to Saturdays. It will be staffed for 18 hours throughout the week, with staff working three hours a day, but the rest of the time it will be unmanned.

Shaun Smith, strategic manager adult and community services for Swindon libraries, said: “We hope to provide a better service, which the existing premises are lacking, it is well worn and the potential for growth is limited.

“The move will enable us to make the library open to a wider range of people, the one thing people were telling us was that they wanted longer hours and to be open at lunch times.”

The library has used the move as an opportunity to change the stock around, bringing in more paper back copies and change around the non-fiction section.

The move will also mean that the library can double its access to public PCs with two new computers at the arts centre.

Coun Fionuala Foley, cabinet member for leisure and corporate services, who is also responsible for libraries, said: “The new library will be a great focal point for the local community as the Arts Centre will have a new open plan café and bar area as well as a new performance studio space.

“I would urge as many residents as possible to pop down and see this fantastic new facility.”