News

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Current News

Funding to Improve Accessibility in Historic Libraries

The Lit & Phil library and the Mining Institute library in Newcastle are to receive Heritage Lottery Fund grants to improve accessibility to their Grade II listed buildings. The £300,000 grant provides one third of the total costs.
The planned improvements include a new level-access entrance creating a link between the two buildings, a lift, improvements to lighting, and IT solutions for blind or partially sighted users.

Posted 01 Dec 2008

Liverpool Central Library Development partners

The £50 million PFI funded redevelopment of Liverpool Central Library is due to start in 2010. The project will see extensions at the back of the library, built in the 1950s and 1970s, demolished and replaced with modern reading, lending, computing and audio areas. The Grade II listed parts of the building from the 1850's will be restored.

Liverpool Council is currently at the stage of selecting one of the five blue-chip development partners shortlisted for the project.

Posted 01 Dec 2008

Categories for the 2009 PLB Awards

The Public Library Building (PLB) Awards are recognised throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland as indicators of professional library development and as benchmarks for public library facilities. Details of the 2009 award categories, as well as the guidance and application forms, have now been announced and can be found on the CILIP website.

Posted 27 Nov 2008

Official Opening of Refurbished Bingham Library, Cirencester

Cirencester’s public Bingham Library reopened in October following a successful £1 million refurbishment. Local celebrity and interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen cut the ceremonial ribbon at the launch event on Nov 14th.

The refurbishment includes a new ground floor children’s library with storytelling area, an internet café and easy to use quick-serve terminals.

Laurence said: "The library looks so glamorous, a great place for the community of Cirencester to come and enjoy. Some of the design features in the library are unique, like the wavy wooden ceiling.”

(Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard, Nov 24th 2008)

Posted 24 Nov 2008

Developers should pay up for libraries, says MLA

Housing developers should chip in at least £90 per head of population to provide libraries in new areas, says the MLA. They find in a recent national survey that councils find a standard formula works well, and simplifies the job of negotiating. The MLA's report 'Public Libraries, Archives and New Development: a standard charge approach' can be downloaded or ordered from the MLA website.(Library and Information Update, 7 (9), September 2008)

Posted 08 Oct 2008

Two Irish libraries granted conservation funding

Pembroke Library, Dublin, and Balivor Library, Meath County, have both been awarded grants under the Irish Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme. Mr. John Gormley, Ministor for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, said 'The high level of community enthusiasm for heritage is evidenced by the number and variety of buildings assisted' and went on to encourage communities to apply under next year's scheme. (Irish Library News, 284, August 2008).

Posted 08 Oct 2008

Lifeline for £50m Liverpool Central Library

Plans to redevelop Liverpool’s Central Library may have been thrown a lifeline after more bidders came forward to take on the multi-million pound project. The £50m project would see much of the building being demolished and rebuilt, instead of just being renovated. But the whole scheme was close to being thwarted last year when one of the two bidders who had expressed an interest pulled out - Government rules mean there must be a minimum of two for it be funded as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI). (Liverpool Echo)

Posted 18 Sep 2008

Design team for the new Birmingham Central Library has been chosen

Mecanoo, a Dutch architectural practice, have been chosen out of a shortlist of seven, to design the new £193 million Birmingham Central Library. Construction is scheduled to start in 2010 for completion by mid 2013. Full details of the history of Birmingham Library, the issue over whether the current library will be listed, and the chosen design team are avaible on the Birmingham Council website.

Posted 11 Aug 2008

New National Library building for South Africa

South Africa opens a new national library building on its site in Pretoria's Central Business District on 1st August.The new library covers 33000m² and seats 1300 users.
More details

Posted 01 Aug 2008

How green is your library?

The 25th national conference of CILIP's Publicity and Public Relations Group's is focusing on green issues, looking at how libraries across all sectors are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprints, write green policies, build and design to green principles, reduce waste and think about sustainable procurement.

The conference 'How Green is my Library' will be held in Manchester, from 6th - 8th November 2008, and details - in electronic form only - are available from the CILIP website.

Posted 14 Jul 2008

New Walton library opens as part of Surrey improvement programme

A new library in Walton-on-Thames has been opened, and 24 main libraries have extended their opening hours, as part of an improvement programme being rolled out by Surrey County Council. The £2m library has self-service facilities and a range of facilities for children and young people.