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News

CENTRAL LIBRARY TO CLOSE FOR REFURBISHMENT

Poole Central Library will close on 4 August for three months for a major refurbishment, worth in excess of £500,000.

The refurbishment, funded by the Borough of Poole, will include 10,000 new books and a new dedicated IT suite offering free Internet access. The newly refurbished library will also boast its own Nathan’s coffee shop, toilets and a lift.

Other improvements include the doubling in size of the children’s library, a designated quiet study area and a new IT Training suite which, among other things, will offer training in word processing, spreadsheets and accessing the Internet.

Cllr Graham Wilson, Executive Spokesperson for Community Information, said: "This huge investment in our Central Library will vastly improve the public’s access to information and entertainment, offering more of the latest books, CDs, DVDs and videos, as well as free Internet access. The new coffee shop and toilets will make it more convenient for people to stay longer in the Library and the lift will provide easier access to people with disabilities or young children. We hope that when the Library reopens in November, people of all ages will make full use of its latest facilities."

Steve Head, Owner of Nathan’s coffee shop, said: "Creating a coffee shop in the library is a great idea. I think it will encourage a less formal atmosphere and help attract more people through the doors. I’m delighted to be involved with what I am sure will be a very successful venture."

The Borough’s nine other libraries will all remain open during the three month closure. Customers can access the Central Library’s CDs and DVDs at Oakdale Library, which will operate extended opening hours. The Library’s PCs, Playstation games and CD audiobooks will be transferred to Broadstone Library, whilst magazines and newspapers will be available from Canford Heath Library.

Until August 3, Central Library customers may also borrow up to 20 books, for return by the end of November. During this time, they may return their books to any of the Borough’s libraries.

The Central Library will close at 7pm on 3 August and reopen at 9:30am on 1 November.

Claire Chidley, Head of Cultural Services