Significant damage to Worksop Library following flood

Published 5th December 2019

Full service to resume Summer 2020

Following exceptional rainfall on Thursday 7 November, Worksop Library on Memorial Avenue suffered a devastating flood throughout the 2000sqm building.

Recovery specialists are currently clearing and cleansing the building, whilst the council and its property partnership ARC develop a programme of works to restore the building for use again.

Due to the significant amount of work required to restore the building, it is estimated that it will be next summer when the library and its services will be fully operational again. This is dependent upon the time taken to dry the building out, the extent of required works and how long it takes to get the various services up and running. The building hosts the library service, adult learning, young people’s study programme, community meetings/events, Café, registration service, adult day care and several Inspire and Nottinghamshire County Council office staff.

The building, one of Inspire’s flagship venues, receives over 200,000 visits a year and holds a library stock of 26,000 items, including a large heritage collection. Through the fast work of staff from across Inspire, all the book stock and local heritage items were saved from flood and damp damage and are now stored in safe conditions. Stock is being monitored for relative humidity levels and to ensure no mould is appearing. So far humidity levels are within a permissible range and hopefully indicates the fast action of staff has paid off.

Cllr John Cottee, Chairman of the Communities and Place committee, and also Chair of the Inspire board, said ‘Thank you to staff from across Inspire, the County Council and ARC partnership for their response to the flood.’ He also thanked the local community for their offers of help and reassured them that the building will be restored, and services resumed as soon as possible.

Alternative Provision To help library customers, Balmoral and Carlton In Lindrick community libraries have extended their opening hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday – 9am-4pm), with the nearby Aurora Centre also accepting book returns. Inspire and Nottinghamshire County Council are exploring the availability of alternative premises for the library service during Worksop’s closure. The adult learning programme has been relocated to several community venues and the 16-19 study programme is operating from The Crossing. The cultural programme has been suspended, whilst alternative venues are secured. The ASK Inspire service (01623 677 200) and www.inspireculture.org.uk will continue to provide updated information.

Registration services, including several weddings have been relocated. The office has been temporarily relocated to The Turbine Innovation Centre. The Day care service is operating from Albion Close. Contact the Nottinghamshire County Council Customer Service centre on 0300 500 8080 for more information.

Further information can be found at inspireculture.org.uk/worksop and nottscc.gov.uk

Worksop Library Flood damage update 5 December 2019