Image
The library now benefits from improved facilities, including:
- ‘The Waverley room’ – a new accessible community space and meeting room for businesses, community organisations and other partners to deliver services and hold events and activities,
- self-service technology,
- energy efficiency improvements to heating and lighting,
- improved accessibility, and
- upgraded toilets.
The building, once used as a school, originally opened as a library in 1992. It is one of the busiest libraries in North Somerset, with over 87,400 items loaned and over 63,400 visits a year.
From Friday 14 October, library users will once again be able to browse the shelves to choose books, as well as collect books and audiobooks pre-ordered online. Children’s activities, including Storytime and Rhymetime, will also once again take place in the library from that date.
As well as standard opening hours (Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9.30am to 5pm and Saturday 9.30am to 1pm), customers will also be able to sign up to use the library for longer with 'extended access'. This self-service technology is already used at other libraries including Portishead and Yatton.
Extended access allows customers to browse, borrow books and use the computers from 8am to 8pm every day of the week, when there are no staff on site. 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. Please speak to library staff to book your induction or visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/extendedaccess.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: "The re-opening of Clevedon Library is most definitely cause for celebration.
“The funding has enabled us to create a hub for community activity by making the building more accessible for all. Named ‘The Waverley’ room, this is a fitting tribute to the much-loved boat that used to call in at Clevedon Pier, an important part of local history.
“We’ve also been able to make the building more environmentally sustainable, helping to lower our carbon footprint on site. It’s already served the local community as a library for three decades and this investment secures its future for many more years to come.”
Councillor Geoff Richardson, North Somerset Council ward member for Clevedon West, said: “'I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to work together to make these improvements. I’d like to thank everyone for their hard work, especially the Library Services team and Clevedon town councillor Hannah Young.”
Councillor Hannah Young, Clevedon Town Council's Community Hub Project Lead, said: "It's wonderful to see the improvements to the library - securing its future at the heart of our community, when just a few years ago the building was under threat of sale. The Town Council is delighted to be working in partnership with North Somerset Council's Library Services team and many local organisations and groups for this location to become a real hub of local information as well as a place to connect with others, learn and be inspired by our local heritage and arts. We are keen to hear from any individuals or groups that would like to join the growing community hub network or know more."
North Somerset Library Service was awarded a grant of £215,900 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, delivered by Arts Council England, as part of the Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF). This fund supports existing library services across England by upgrading buildings and technology, so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people use libraries.
Phil Gibby, Area Director at Arts Council England South West, added: "We’re pleased to have been able to support North Somerset Libraries to re-develop Clevedon Library through the Libraries Improvement Fund. As the development agency for libraries, the Arts Council distributes the fund on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This funding recognises the changing landscape in libraries and enables these trusted community spaces to better serve their communities, helping us achieve our vision set out in Let’s Create where everyone has access to a range of high-quality cultural experiences.
"We look forward to seeing Clevedon Library’s plans unfold and the benefits it will bring to children and adults in the years to come, with more opportunities to engage in creativity and enjoy cultural experiences in North Somerset, one of our Priority Places.”
North Somerset Council has provided additional in-kind support and other funding, and the project is supported by Clevedon Town Council. The project funding safeguards the future of Clevedon Library for the next ten years.
More information about the new facilities at Clevedon Library is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/clevedonlibrary.