Library news | 29 November 2007
On Tuesday 20 November St Bride Library opened its doors again. After six months of intensive work planning the project and finding temporary homes for thousands of books and artifacts, the space was cleared for contractors to move in and refurbish it in mid-October. They installed a partition between the new reading room and the machinery room, replaced services, and redecorated a room which has gone without improvement for over thirty years. Shelving, including a nine-bay set of rolling shelves giving us 508 metres of storage, was installed last week. The shelves were filled by a band of volunteers and staff on 18 and 19 November and all is now ready.
The new Reading Room is distinctly different from its predecessor. For the first time, about ten thousand books are within easy reach, either on open shelving or on stacks which are near at hand. The shelving is open, so it will be easier for visitors to use. We hope to be able to welcome many more new people in future, making them into regular visitors who appreciate the qualities of the material we hold and are eager to make use of it.
We'd like to thank the many people who have put time and effort into this project. Firstly, to the project staff and contractors who worked hard to meet our tight deadline. We're delighted with the new facilities. Secondly, to a band of volunteers who have given up so much of their time to fetch and carry everything from iron handpresses to boxes of trade cards, books to wood blocks around the building. Without their help the new Reading Room would not be a reality.
For any further information or to donate to St Bride Library please contact:
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