Edwinstowe celebrates the opening of new Library and Learning Centre

Staff and customers will be celebrating the opening of their new Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre with their official opening celebrations on Saturday 26 January with special guests and local professional storyteller, Nicky Rafferty.

The official opening celebration will take place from 11am, with the official ribbon and cake cutting taking place at 11.15am by the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Sue Saddington and the library’s dedicated staff and volunteers.

Approximate running order for the day is as follows;

11am- Welcome and Introduction by Inspire CEO, Peter Gaw

11.15 am- Official library opening by Cllr. Sue Saddington

11.20am- Cake cutting, followed by refreshments

11.30am- Storytelling with Nicky Rafferty

Edwinstowe Library will re-open its doors to the public on Thursday 3 January 2019 at 9.30am following an extensive refurbishment. As a result of consultation with the local community, the library will open under the new title of Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre.

As part of the consultation process, the public helped us to decide on the following changes to the library; 

• Creation of an accessible customer toilet
  
• Increased range and quantity of book stock
  
• Creation off a meeting room with refreshment making facilities
  
• New energy-efficient heating and lighting
• New shelving, furnishings and decoration
• An extensive programme of learning courses
• Relocation of children’s library to the ground floor
  
• Tea and coffee available to purchase
• Revised opening hours including removal of lunchtime closures
• Volunteering opportunities to meet new friends, help keep the library sustainable and assist staff with library activities 

The library will still continue to offer the same great services before such as regular staff-led sessions for under 5s, book groups, craft groups and other activities. 

The library opening times will be;

Tues: 9:30am-6.30pm, Thurs: 9.30am-1pm, Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat: 10am-1pm.

Peter Gaw, Chief Executive at Inspire said: “Edwinstowe follows a long list of libraries refurbished by the County Council over the last 10 years and benefits from all that we have learnt on how to make our libraries fit for the needs local communities. We are really pleased with the involvement the local community and hope this will continue as we develop the service”.

Ian Bond, Inspire Learning Manger added: “I am excited by the excellent new facilities at the Edwinstowe Library and Learning Centre and delighted by the opportunity to showcase Inspire’s fantastic new learning offer for young people and adults that will help learners to gain new skills, make friends and improve their health and wellbeing”.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee chairman, Councillor John Cottee said: "It’s great to see this library re-opening its doors – it’s an important hub for the community, so I hope the various improvements and the library’s fresh new look will make for an even better environment for local people to read and learn.”

We look forward to welcoming you to our Official Opening Ceremony on Saturday 26 of January! Or join us for a special Gruffalo Storyhullabaloo on Friday 25 January 2-2.30pm and say hello to our special guest The Gruffalo. 

To keep up with the Edwinstowe refurbishment, click here. Or keep up to date by following us on Twitter @NottsLibraries and Facebook @NottsLibraries.