Exeter Library opening date revealed
Visitors are expected to flock to Exeter Library on Thursday 22 May, when Devon County Council’s multi-million pound refurbishment is finally revealed.
The opening date is announced this week in a special report to Councillors of the Exeter Board ahead of its meeting on Monday 27 January.
The County Council report follows public consultation on Exeter Library, as well as Pinhoe, St Thomas and Topsham libraries, which drew 555 responses.
As a result, St Thomas library will open for longer while the £4.1 million refurbished Exeter Library will open 58 hours per week, providing seven day a week access. See Note to Editors for opening times.
150 suggestions for a new name to the improved area outside Exeter Library's main entrance identified two popular choices: Rougement Square/Place/Plaza and Library Square/Place/Plaza.
And the County Council’s preference, which it will recommend to Exeter City Council, is that the space be named Rougement Place.
Exeter Library will be the third of the County Council's flagship 'Devon Centres' - alongside the Hayridge in Cullompton and Passmore Edwards Centre in Newton Abbot - and as such will provide a broader range of services.
Central to its offer is a new business information and IP (Intellectual Property) service, which will be delivered with support from the British Library's Business and IP service.
The centre aims to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and inventors to develop their businesses across a range of industries.
Staff trained by the British Library and the Library of Birmingham will provide small business advice and support, while the hub will include access to a comprehensive collection of databases and publications to help users with trademarks, patents, registered designs, copyright and other IP queries.
There will also be a 'Fab Lab', which will provide opportunities for businesses, schools and the public to use specialist equipment such as 3D printers to prototype their ideas and support learning, innovation and enterprise.
Elsewhere, the Council is responding to feedback from the consultation that showed a demand for a wider range of books and other resources. Suggestions made by the public are feeding into stock purchasing plans for the new library.
The centre will also have Wi-Fi and public computing facilities; a quiet area for reading or study on the first floor, and improved children and young people's areas on the ground floor.
A cafe, run by Devon Norse, with seating in the large new foyer area and on an outside patio will enable people to enjoy a coffee and a read with a book in Rougement Gardens.
The entrance to the library from Rougemont Gardens will give better connections with the city’s Cultural Quarter with the Museum, Phoenix Arts Centre and Exeter Castle.
On the third floor, a training kitchen will help adults with learning disabilities develop independent living skills, while meeting rooms and other facilities are available for a wide range of Devon County Council and community use.
Access for people with disabilities will be substantially improved with a new lift to all floors, and accessible toilets.
Also in the Exeter Board report; public consultation showed overall support by the community in Topsham for the Estuary League of Friends (ELF) to take on the running of the library.
70 responses to local consultation identified some concerns including ELF's capacity to take on the library; adequate provision for children and young people; parking; and the availability of a good range of books.
In Pinhoe, 26 people responded to consultation in writing or at its public meeting. The feeling there was that a library in the community should remain, but unlike Topsham, no community organisation has expressed interest in closer working with the Council.
And as a result of comments from St Thomas library users, the Council has installed Wi-Fi; improved the children's area; and increased the opening hours, now opening at 9am.
Councillor Roger Croad, the County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service is confident that the public will be impressed with the new Exeter Library.
"We had a very positive response to the recent public consultation and I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to give us their views.
"I'm delighted to be able to announce now the date for the reopening of Exeter Library. I know many people across the city are looking forward to seeing what their new library has to offer."
Exeter Library opening hours
Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 12noon - 4pm
