Library and History Centre for Maidstone

Maidstone in kent will be home to one of the most innovative library and history centres in the country.

A special ceremony on Friday will mark the start of building work on James Whatman Way. The day will also include the official signing of the agreement with Bouygues Development, the developer of the £12 million project.

The new centre will protect and display a wealth of documents, photographs, images, maps and records about the history of the county in carefully controlled conditions.

The centre will also include a community history area, archive search room, digital studio and a large space for displays and events.

Visitors will be able to enjoy improved library and IT services, Wifi access and well-equipped meeting rooms. The new library will replace and update the existing services currently offered at the County Central and St Faith’s libraries.

Posted 24 Feb 2010

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Walsall Library Repairs to finish soon

Walsall Library refurbishments are to finally finsish next month.

The long-standing Black Country library has been forced to undergo essential structural repairs is to the sandstone entrance, which dates back more than a 100 years. The facade of the Lichfield Street building has needed to undergo improvement work after surveys revealed it was disintegrating.

Small cracks were found in 2008 in parts of the building during routine maintenance work. Scaffolding was erected around the library soon after these discoveries and work started in June. The library has been able to remain open for business during the £200,000 restoration project.

Posted 24 Feb 2010

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New Library for Claremont High Scholls

Claremont High School has a brand new library designed and furnished by Demco. The school is an expanding and oversubscribed multi specialist college currently with over 1,500 students but this figure is expected to rise during 2010.

The library upgrade was fully supported by senior school management, staff and pupils who made the decision that if they were going to have a new library they wanted the very best they could afford and the best for their students.

Nicki Boughey, Deputy Head Teacher said: “Our existing library just wasn’t big enough and we wanted to give our students the best. In addition our sixth form in particular needed some quality space to work and study. In addition as part of our progress to deliver the IB (International Baccalaureate) in 2010 we had to look at our facilities and that included our library. As a school we felt that our students deserve the very best and we are delighted with our new library”.

School Librarian Heather Powell adds: “Our decision was that, if we were going to do it then we were going to do it properly and Demco with their experience in designing school libraries could give us that. We wanted to see a fully fledged Learning Resource centre where books and IT would be integrated. What we did NOT want was a computer room with books on the side.”

The school library ‘project team’ did their research and visited three other libraries including Bentley Wood School, the eminent Harrow School and a community college.

The products and services were specifically developed, designed and tested for use in school and public libraries, Richard Mitchell, Special Projects Advisor at Demco explains why this is so important: “The school library is a very important part of the learning environment and the design, layout and selection of products has to support pupil personal and learning development as well as the needs of teachers and librarians.
Designing a school library is a complex process with lots of factors to take into account – you can honestly see and feel the difference between a library that has been designed by experts in the education field and one that hasn’t. A badly designed library with poor quality furnishings is neither sustainable nor usable and only ends up with everyone feeling disappointed”.

For Claremont High School Demco proposed Blend shelving with end panel display units to promote key stock, pebble stools, desking, tables, seating, sawtooth IT benching and a spacious counter for the librarians to use. The combination of quality furnishings and careful design means that pupils can now enjoy: on and off line working; individual and group study; quiet, relaxing, lounge-style areas; private space to stay ‘in the zone’ and leaves room for librarians to develop the service. Finally, areas were defined by the aubergine, purple and lilac colour scheme to create a stress free sanctuary for students to work, study and chill.

The budget for the project was generous, but not taken for granted, and the school was keen to blend some of their existing shelving into the new scheme. The new design cleverly takes advantage of the older, lower height shelving so that it nests comfortably and seamlessly between the newer bays.

Librarian Heather Powell continues: “Now that we have the new library we want to develop different elements within the MLE programme and will be looking at Reading Clubs, longer opening hours and other things that the pupils want. At the moment we are just enjoying our new library although spare time has not been an option - we have been so busy we have had to take on an additional member of staff. The bell goes and nobody moves – they love it!”.

It seems that pupils at Claremont High finally did get the library they deserved.

Posted 22 Feb 2010

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Mansfield Library Plans unveiled

Plans for the £3.6m refurbishment of Mansfield Library have been revealed by Nottinghamshire County Council chiefs.

The proposals to transform the popular library and revamp facilities for customers include new toilets, a second lift, a better area for children and improved access to the local history section.

The plans replace a previous £4.5m scheme which has been amended following a review of all capital projects and no longer includes a County Contact point or new reception area.

Click here for more details and artists impressions of the new library.

Posted 22 Feb 2010

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Bright, Light and Circular - Chichester Library

The two storey Chichester Library has received an extension and refurbishment to make it Disability Discrimination Act compliant and a lighter, brighter experience for library users. The project was funded by West Sussex County Council as part of a programme of capital improvements throughout the County.

The first thing you notice and an obvious feature is that the building is totally circular and virtually all glass. One of the objectives of the refurbishment was to make the very best use of this natural light streaming through the building from the windows and skylights. Space and function were combined with lower, lighter shelving to guide eyelines through the open space.

Gareth Edmunds, Principal Librarian, Operations said: “We didn’t want any barriers in the library. We want library users to see things for themselves and make the space as light and accessible as we possibly could”.

Demco was already a familiar name to the library team and this, combined with visits to other libraries, and their attractive product range made them an obvious choice to partner on the project. They designed the shelving to fit the circular contours of the building and with the library’s low level, overhead spotlighting it makes an attractive feature against the natural brick walls. Other freestanding bays were clad in a maple finish and additional stock display included openwork metal media towers and light quick pick browsers. Pebble stools, sylish Sorens sofas and easy seating with chrome legs in a mix of blues, greens and aubergine colours set against the natural brickwork gives the interior a modern, architectural feel but still paying homage to its sixties heritage.

Gareth Edmunds adds: “We wanted to make the best use of budget while retaining the architectural features of the building. The furnishings were chosen to mirror the greys and blues of the outside sky which are reflected in the glass exterior. The whole look is very natural but with its own feature and style. The public like the colours, the openness, light and space and the staff like it because it is robust and easy to work in and with”.

Posted 15 Feb 2010

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New Library for Spurgeons College

Spurgeons College, the largest Baptist College in Britain, is celebrating the opening of its new library. Librarian Judy Powles who has worked there for 25 years says: “the new library is bright and welcoming and people now come in and say ‘wow’”.

The transformation of the old library included bringing together different spaces and creating a light and airy environment far removed from the cloistered, fragmented and oppressive old library.

Demco’s relationship with the College started over 15 years ago when ideas for the new library were mooted. It has taken that long for building and planning issues to be resolved and stage one of this huge rebuild and refurbishment project to get the go ahead.

The design objectives were to create a library that was opening and welcoming where students could sit and work comfortably.

As a true 21st century theological college and graduate school the student base at Spurgeons is balanced more towards mature students many of whom have answered a vocational call later in life. The new design has therefore successfully blended the similarities and differences in student life to create a modern, relevant library.

Demco specified metal, high-tech shelving with a beech trim for a modern-traditional look blended with demure blue carpet, shades-of-blue upholstered study chairs and beech study tables.

An important part of the brief was to incorporate a future stock growth allowance into the shelving design and layout. The library adds around 1,600 books a year and the shelves have now been positioned slightly closer together to allow for extra space.

The new library has quite evidently been worth the long wait and is now top of the list on College Open Days.

Posted 15 Feb 2010

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£4.8 million library improvement scheme for Notts County

A number of Notts County libraries are set to be modernised in a £4.8m scheme.

Notts County Council is looking to fit new shelves, furniture, lights, ceilings, toilets and carpets in 14 of its libraries. Floor space is also set to be increased, as plans are developed to cut the size of back offices. The work will also make the the buildings comply with the Disabilities Discrimination Act.

If approved, the plans are expected to be completed during the next six years.

The 14 libraries in the scheme are: Arnold, Bingham, Blidworth, Calverton, East Leake, Edwinstowe, Keyworth, Langold, Mansfield Woodhouse, Newark, Ollerton, Ravenshead, Ruddington, Stapleford. These were selected based on their condition and potential to achieve a significant improvement in appearance within budget.

As part of a different scheme, the council is fitting self-service counters to libraries to save cash and give librarians more time to advise members of the public.

Posted 15 Feb 2010

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Truro Library Re-opens

Truro's newly refurbished community library has re-opened with a series of fun-filled community events planned for this half term.

The £1.4million project to improve and extend the library in Union Place is now completed, giving the building improved facilities including a revamped ICT area with internet lounge and editing suite, community meeting rooms and a café.

The project has made much greater use of the second floor which now has two committee and function rooms for hire. It is hope that the new café will increase the foot fall and ensure that the library is integrated with the wider community.

Posted 15 Feb 2010

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Another new Library Centre in Kirklees

Residents and visitors to Ravensthorpe can look forward to a brand new Library, Information and Children's Centre to replace the old library and community centre.

The old library building in Huddersfield Road has been demolished and work is getting under way on the building, which is set to be a the new hub of this community providing a wide range of services for all the family..

This development is the final stage of the regeneration of the immediate area, which includes the nursery, health centre, renovations to the park and now the new Library and Information Centre.

This is the latest in a series of centres which have been developed across Kirklees. Thornhill Lees Library opened earlier this month.

All of these centres are being developed to comply with energy efficiency regulations.

The new centre in Ravensthorpe will provide access to a wide range of valuable services benefiting the community by providing community meeting space, access to more council and community information, free access to the internet, as well as an excellent choice of books.

Arts agency Loca have been brought in to work on a creative engagement project related to the new building. They have employed two artists to deliver the project and they will be using creative activities to involve local residents in developing ideas for a series of artworks and design features for the new building.

Posted 15 Feb 2010

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Corby Cube Takes Shape

Kate Cronin writing for the Evening Telegraph writes of stepping into the 'Amazing Corby Cube for the first time' and being 'amazed by its scale'.

The Corby Cube in the East Midlands is a £32 million multi-purpose civic-hub building that will house number of facilities including a library, theatre and performing arts studio.

The library is situated upstairs, above the theatre. At the side of the library is a children's reading area which juts out of the side of the building and can be seen on the Westcott Way side of the building as a suspended box.

It overlooks a large, outdoor, stepped terrace that is already visible from the road.

Cllr Mark Pengelly, leader of Corby Council said: "Most people just can't believe this place is in Corby. We're so proud of it."

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has confirmed that the Corby Cube building has received top marks and has been awarded a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.

Key moves in achieving this rating included:

• The re-use of a redundant brown field town centre site

• A predominantly passive natural ventilation strategy
Minimising energy consumption by maximising natural day lighting
• Rainwater recycling
• Enhancing the site’s ecology and reducing the building’s impact on its environment through imaginative planting schemes and ‘green roofs’ 

Posted 08 Feb 2010

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