Clevedon Library improvement works set to begin

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Major refurbishment works are due to start at Clevedon Library this month.

It means the library in Old Church Road will close temporarily to customers on Saturday 18 June and will re-open in early October.

Works will be taking place to create a new community room for events, groups and activities. At the same time, the library will be made greener by upgrading the heating system, improving insulation and fitting energy efficient lighting. It is also being made more accessible for customers and baby changing facilities are being installed.

"This investment in the library secures the building's future at its current site for many years to come," said Cllr Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community services. 

"It will enable us to develop it as a hub of community activity by making the building more accessible for all and, at the same time, making it more environmentally sustainable, helping to lower our carbon footprint on site."

While the library building is closed, the library team will be working hard to ensure customers continue to be supplied with books and will be organising library children’s activities in the neighbouring church hall.

A ‘call and collect’ service, similar to that offered during the Covid lockdowns, will be available. Customers can reserve books online at www.librarieswest.org.uk or request them by contacting the library by phone on 01934 426 020 or email at clevedon.library@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Pre-ordered books and audiobooks will be available for collection from the annex in the library grounds (to the left of the front door). Books won’t be due back until October, but customers can use the returns box to return items.

Library children’s activities, including Story time, Rhymetime and the Summer Reading Challenge, will take place on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons in St John’s Church Hall next door on Hillside Road.

Customers can visit any other library and use their library card including Portishead, Yatton, Nailsea and The Campus. Customers can also get free eBooks and eAudiobooks from home with their library card from links at www.librarieswest.org.uk.

When the library re-opens in October the current opening hours will remain but customers will also be able to sign up to use the library for longer with 'Extended Access'. This self-service technology is used at other libraries including Portishead and Yatton.

It means customers will be able to browse, borrow books and use the computers from 8am to 8pm when there are no staff on site, every day of the week. Customers will be invited to sign up when the library re-opens and will need to attend a short briefing session to find out how it works.

The improvement project is funded by North Somerset Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Libraries Improvement Fund which is administered by Arts Council England. Clevedon Town Council is supporting the project.