A wonderful music library with two pianos and a mezzanine floor with more study booths.
Spacious children’s library with gated toddler play area.
Teen zone off the children’s library – cool computer chairs.
Reference library and business centre upstairs.
Very good, active twitter account, tying up with the local radio station. Mention of hosting Raspberry Jams.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council don’t designate a central library so I picked Beverley Library as it is within a community building named Treasure House (great name!)
The Council website says: The East Riding Treasure House is a multi-disciplinary centre for heritage and information services. It contains the East Riding Archives and Local Studies, Beverley Library, a Museum and Beverley Art Gallery. There is also a coffee lounge and gift shop, and you can get a magnificent view of Beverley and the Minster from the tower.
The building opened in 2007 and was largely funded by a National Lottery Heritage grant. The library had a refurbishment in 2008.
There were some interesting animals on display amongst the book shelves, a lovely bright children’s area, a separate IT suite, and an amazing BFG cake on display.
After walking through the modern library you come to an old reference reading room which is a lovely contrast.
Although there are reports that the centre’s opening hours had been reduced it still manages to stay open until 8 several times a week.
The library in Scunthorpe is North Lincolnshire’s Central Library. It was built in 1974 and looks rather like a modern church building outside but feels a bit dated inside. It’s on the edge of a shopping area. It had to close for a month while a multi-storey car park next door was demolished and had its opening hours reduced in 2012.
The ground floor has the adult lending and children’s library.
The first floor has non-fiction and reference. I believe there is a another floor which is now offices.
Apprently the library hosts the Scunthorpe Trading Card Club (TCC)
Lincolnshire Libraries are now run by Greenwich Leisure Ltd. This was quite an embattled process with vocal sides: Save Lincolnshire Libraries site, another perspective. The Guardian wrote about the changeover in January 2016.
Fortunately Lincoln’s Central Library is still standing and well used. There was a handy display showing the history of the library.
The library has a Carnegie frontage, was extended in the 1990s and given another refurbishment in 2009. The décor still feels quite art deco inspired.
Interesting study booths
Fabulous castle themed children’s area.
There’s also a rather warm and fun Downton Abbey inspired tea rooms opposite the library too – Lady Rose’s Edwardian Tea Rooms where we sampled the afternoon tea.
Doncaster Central Library is based in a civic area of Doncaster on a street called Waterdale. Opposite the library there is a new council building and a performing arts theatre called Cast.
By comparison the library building looks a little dated. (This is an old picture as the front is now pedestrianised but you get the gist).
The entrance is not at all inviting as the library itself is on the floors above.
However, it was packed with stock:
The library had a refurbishment in 2013 worth £120,000 but I think it deserves a complete overhaul! Someone start a petition.
Grimsby Central Library was built between 1966 and 1968 and is now operated by Lincs Inspire. The statues on the outside were made by local artist Peter Todd and called the Guardians of Knowledge. They look a bit forbidding to me. Apparently Google Map’s algorithm originally blurred out their faces in order to protect their privacy!
The Library was refurbished in 2013 and reopened in 2014 with its stock being condensed from the original 5 floors into 3. There was an attempt to get the building listed in 2011 and you can read the English Heritage Report.
Fortunately, various original 1960s features were retained such as the entrance foyer terrazzo floor and the hanging light fittings.
Inside it had a really nice feel.
The children’s area was small but had a whole bookcase of Polish children’s literature which I thought was lovely.
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