Posted on Monday 18th November 2024
Left to right: Deborah Clemson (project manager), Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader Philip White and Angela Roeton (project manager).
A £1.3million refurbishment of Burton Library is almost complete – with the main part of the building newly fitted out and now open to visitors.
The project has seen the transformation of the library space for people of all ages and various community groups.
An allocation of £265,000 was secured from the central government Libraries Improvement Fund in 2023 with Staffordshire County Council investing the remainder.
Following a week’s temporary closure to complete the latest phase, the main library reopened on Monday. Now work is under way on the new children’s library in the former café area. This phase is due to be completed in mid-December.
Improvements to the library building in Burton will provide better space for enjoying books and many other social and learning activities. It follows investment at libraries in Codsall, Lichfield, Tamworth, Stafford and Newcastle.
After engaging with library users, the Burton Library team found that people would like to see space for cultural enrichment, a place where there are opportunities for creativity, learning and socialising and improved digital access.
The refurbishment has involved repurposing the library into a vibrant, multi-purpose, accessible and inclusive space.
The updated library includes a flexible creative area for social activity and community learning which could be used by a range of groups and learning providers.
Another area supports community wellbeing, offering quiet space for those needing to escape from noise and sensory overload. The children’s space will offer interactive elements and sensory equipment.
The new children’s area will reflect the surroundings of the Washlands on the library doorstep to provide a connection with the local area. It is planned to create a bespoke children’s library feature depicting nature, with enclosed reading areas and integrated book displays.
And a flexible space for events and activities will potentially able to seat 30 people in a theatre style.
Wherever possible sustainable materials have been used, together with reused or recycled furniture. The improvements also include refurbished toilets and a new ceiling.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Victoria Wilson said:
It’s fantastic to see the main part of the newly refurbished library open and people enjoying the excellent facilities for the first time this week. The final phase of the project – creating the new children’s library space – is now under way
We’re confident that this newly created space reflects the wishes of the community, and we have made every effort to work these into the overall plans.
Burton Library will be a welcoming environment for all ages and for people with a wide range of learning and social requirements. It’s flexible and multi-use design means we can reach the most people and get the very best out of the space.
This is a significant investment, bringing long-term improvements to the library and benefiting the wider community for years to come.”
People can see Victoria and county council deputy leader Philip White talking about the newly fitted out library on the opening video.
Further information about the project, including frequently asked questions can be found on the Burton Library webpage.
People can view a generated walk through of the ground floor library area on a video link.
A design company, Fg Library & Learning, has undertaken the refurbishment. It has worked on numerous library refurbishment projects nationally, including Codsall Library in Staffordshire.