New Year, New Look for Newbury Library

Press Release from West Berkshire Council 
Newbury Library has re-opened today (Wednesday 2 January) following a two-week closure for refurbishment.

Almost 5 million people have visited the library since it opened in July 2000. Like any much loved and well used building, it needed some maintenance.

A £30,000 refurbishment project has seen public areas across two floors re-carpeted and re-decorated. Staff, volunteers and contractors have been busy with the refurbishment over the Christmas break and making sure it was ready to open again in the New Year.

Speaking about the refurbishment, Councillor Rick Jones, Executive Member for Culture, said: “We’ve had a staggering number of people visit the library since it opened almost 20 years ago. This refurbishment will ensure that Newbury continues to have a library residents can enjoy and be proud of in the years to come.

“The library has seen a number of changes over the years and it is no longer simply a place where people borrow books. There has been a significant expansion of digital services including self-service kiosks, an increasing number of online resources and apps for borrowing e-books and e-magazines. Together with free computer use, wifi, family history research and other local information there is a lot on offer for local people.”
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To find out more about West Berkshire’s libraries – including how to borrow e-books – visit www.wesberks.gov.uk/libraries