Oswestry Library - development and progress of new building

Great news – the keys to the new library have finally been handed over. As you may know there have been many delays but at last we can report some real progress and look forward to opening the new library within the next 12 months.

What next ?

As you can see from the picture the building is just a large empty space but the internal work should start before the end of this year.
The fitting out should take about 6 months and this will be followed by a further period of about 3 months when the existing library will be refurbished.
At some time the library will have to close to allow the stock to be moved, but the disruption of the service will be kept to a minimum.  

What you said …

in the latest library survey:

“The new library building will hopefully give the library the boost it needs”

“It is a pity there is no more space to walk in to library. It could do with ramps to get in to”

“I wish it was bigger and had more books. Just a much bigger budget I guess. Oh, and some public toilets as well!”

“Space is a problem. There are usually several readers/clients needing attention at the desk – not helped by the requests for the use of computers. I'm usually one of them!”

“Lack of space is the obvious drawback to this amenity – no doubt the new building will rectify this”

What the new library will have:

• much more space – three times bigger than the current building
• better access with most services on one floor
• lift between the reception area and the main floor
• lots more books, DVDs, CDs and videos
• accessible toilets with baby changing facilities
• more space to browse, read and relax
• more computers for public use
• better exhibition space
• improved meeting room facilities
• an exciting, improved and extended Local History Centre

The next 12 months will be very exciting for the library service in Oswestry. Below you can find out about the Discover Shropshire project and some of the activities and events that are being planned for 2008.

Discover Shropshire Local History Project - your key to unlocking the secrets of Shropshire's fascinating past

Shropshire Archives and Shropshire County Library Service are working together on a project to provide better access to local history, archive and museum resources through local libraries.

The project aims to work with groups and individuals in order to promote local history to residents and visitors.

In Oswestry the project is well underway with a major cataloguing exercise near to completion in the existing local history collection. The new centre will include:

• Access to copies of local and family history resources
• Small museum displays and handling collections
• Web access to digitised resources and catalogues, including a photographic and print collection
• Opportunities for learning, activity and enjoyment
• Support and advice services provided by enthusiastic and knowledgeable local volunteers

The resources will be available in a variety of formats; paper, film and digital.  They will include:

• Local books including local and family history reference books
• Commercial directories
• Census returns 1841-1901 and indexes
• Subject and parish packs
• Parish registers, other parish records, monumental inscriptions and non-conformist registers
• Maps and plans
• Catalogues to sources held elsewhere
• Periodicals e.g. local and national Family History and Local History publications
• School records
• Electoral registers
• Borough and local authority records including microfiche copies of Town Council archive documents

Volunteers are needed to assist in various areas of the project - providing advice services, carrying out research and helping with events. If you would like to know more please contact either Teresa Eccleston or Derek Williams at Oswestry library.

For more information on the Discover Shropshire project follow the link on this page.

Library events for 2008
To celebrate the new library there will be a programme of events and activities for everyone. Some will take place before the move takes place and the rest once the building is completed. Here are some of the highlights:

On February 27 two top funny men will cook up poems and cartoons in

A Cartoon History of Here
A hilarious live action cartoon will be created, with your help, by Yorkshire poet, broadcaster and comedian Ian McMillan and ten times ‘Cartoonist of the Year’, Tony Husband. Further information is available from Claire Cartlidge at Oswestry library.

Shropshire Winter Read
If you love reading  and want to try something different you can take part in the second Shropshire Winter Read which will be launched in December and will finish on World Book Day in March 2008. Everyone who takes part will receive reading recommendations and challenges and could win the chance to help select some new books for the library.

More than 400 people joined in the first Winter Read and submitted 700 book reviews. Here are some of their comments about the books they read… 

“I don’t usually read crime fiction, especially that translated from Norwegian, but this book was impossible to put down”
He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum

“Really enjoyed this even though it is not my usual type of book. Beautifully written and builds up to an unputdownable climax”
Spies by Michael Frayn
 
“A bit stumped when it came to a fiction genre I’d not tried before, but alighted on westerns and was pleasantly surprised”
Woman of the Frontier by Zane Grey

“The reader’s imagination is held time and again until the tale’s conclusion. A memorable read”
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

Further information about the 2008 Shropshire Winter Read will soon be available in libraries and on the website.

2008 - National Year of Reading
The National Year of Reading 2008, which starts in January, aims to put reading at the top of everyone’s agenda and libraries in Shropshire will be taking part.

Oswestry Reads
What one book do you think could be read by the people of Oswestry? In schools, offices and shops, on buses and, of course, in the library we could all read the same title and share our thoughts. A similar challenge was taken up by the people of Liverpool who read “Catcher in the Rye” and in Bristol copies of “Treasure Island” were borrowed, bought and shared.

Oswestry Reads will begin in March 2008 with a shortlist of suggested titles. You can take part in a number of ways:

• suggest a title for the shortlist
• vote for your favourite book
 
• read the selected title and share your thoughts about it
• help to promote the idea to your friends, family and colleagues

If this idea appeals to you please contact Heather Rodenhurst or Teresa Eccleston at Oswestry library.

Readers Day
Would you like to meet some authors and hear how and why they write? Do you like discussing books and reading? If so, then you may be interested in taking part in a Readers Day which will follow on from the Oswestry Reads promotion and will be organised for next autumn in the new library. If you have any suggestions for the programme and would like to be involved in planning the day please let us know.

Local history, archives and museums
In August this year the Discover Shropshire project organised and promoted an Oswestry History week with talks, walks and advice sessions. When the local history centre opens in the new library there will be a more ambitious programme of tours, talks and other activities.

Arts exhibitions and performances
The new library will have flexible performance, exhibition and meeting space which will be available for hire as well as for library organised events. There will be a programme of library tours on a regular basis so that you can see what is available.

This is just a selection of the events that are planned. If you have any ideas and would like to know more about anything in this newsletter, please contact Teresa Eccleston or Claire Cartlidge at Oswestry library.

A copy of this newsletter can be downloaded from the link on this page.