Author: librarytouristblog

Runcorn Library

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Runcorn Library is another library which is off a shopping centre. As I was using Google maps and in a car it took us a while to work out how to actually get into the library. Even when we’d parked the car there were no signs to the library from the multi-storey or the shopping centre so I had to rely on my sense of direction.

The library itself is decorated in a mix of grey and bright areas. It felt very funky. The café looked good although the chair colours looked a bit sci-fi – unfortunately I didn’t have time to test out their hot chocolates.

The library is arranged on at least 3 floors. I got the impression few people make it to the ground floor where the local studies, or ‘community history’, collection is kept as I was pounced on by a surprised Saturday assistant and I didn’t feel I could stay or take pictures.

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I like the bookstacks (all on wheels I think). The signage was clear and modern and the use of colour was great.

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I really like these chairs and think they are wonderful for making notes or having a quick swivel. I’d like to have some at work but I don’t know how robust they are.

I think Runcorn have done a really good job of making use of – what felt like – left over space.

Wood Green Central Library

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Wood Green

I came out of the tube station and there was a sign for the library (perfect – who needs Google maps now, ha!). I had to remind myself that I consider myself a Londoner as I negotiated the hustle and bustle of the traffic and the drunks outside the station.

A short walk down the road and then there is a rather clear LIBRARY sign. It looks like it’s supposed to look like it’s made of paper and it is striking but it could do with a good clean.

The library seems to be off the side of the shopping centre entrance.

A large area was shielded off with signs apologising for building work. This was part of a project to bring the Council’s customer service centre on site and opened about a week after I visited.  I could see the lending library bookstacks and an area with tables that looked more like plastic café seating rather than a study area. A large group of people were chatting loudly that may have been a community meeting of some sort. The library was full of people and lots of bustling activity.

Chester Library

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** There is now a brand new library in Chester, Storyhouse, which I am looking forward to visiting**

Unfortunately Chester library was a bit underwhelming. Chester itself is, of course, such a nice county town. From the outside the library building (an old motor car works) looks really interesting but the inside feels worn and lagging behind most of the other central libraries I’ve seen recently. Admittedly Cheshire arranges its libraries into regions and I picked Chester to represent Cheshire libraries as it was a the county town, it does not claim to be a “central library”.

The library is a good size and it was packed full of stock. I went on a showery July Saturday (my birthday!) at lunch time and there weren’t many readers around. But it was also a race day with race-goers tottering up the street so it’s possible locals stay indoors on such days. The library is on three floors. The children’s library is in the basement which I like (as long as there’s a lift) as it helps contain toddlers and there is a stepped area which I presume is for story-telling. The ground-floor included fiction, music scores, DVDs, CDs, teen section. Upstairs was more like a reference section with newspapers, local studies, more computers and study tables.

Generally, the inside could do with a refit to complement its outward appearance.

Islington Central Library

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I have one word – turquoise.

Islington Central Library should have been a short walk from the tube but I went the wrong way – twice. When I found it I entered from a modern entrance on the side street but it is actually quite an old building (built in 1906) on Holloway Road.

The end of the bookcases were covered in fabric, possibly to make them also function as noticeboard. The fabric was turquoise. The library is on three floors: lending library on the ground floor, children’s library on the second floor and reference on the third floor.

An area of the ground floor has a full height ceiling which is ornate but at some point the detailing has been painted – turquoise! And again on the third floor.

There were plenty of people in the library, studying, looking through the books and on the computers on the ground floor and in the reference library. There was a security guard sitting in the reference library watching over the computer users.

These types of signs look decidedly old fashioned now:

The children’s library on the 1st floor looked really good but it had automatic doors so I didn’t feel I could go in as I didn’t have any kids with me. It had a more modern colour scheme so I can only assume that it has been refurbished recently.

 

 

Coventry Central Library

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I was really thrilled to discover that The Big Read had organised bookbenches in the Birmingham area. I loved the original Books About Town project in 2014 which was a collaboration between Wild in Art and the National Literacy Trust. So any development on this idea I am all in favour of. If I’d known there were over 150 benches in the area I would have taken the time to follow one of the trails. But I was overjoyed to see some benches illustrated by local schools in Coventry and Solihull libraries.

Coventry Central Library is off the shopping district but we hadn’t seen any signs for the Library on the way in which I always feel is a bad omen. It means that it hasn’t occurred to the council that people might want to know where the library is!

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You enter on the ground floor where there are public loos and a lift or stairs. Once up to the first floor we were pleasantly surprised. The décor was welcoming and it felt quite modern. Largely an open area with a mezzanine there was a giant chess set in the middle which my family immediately started playing. I don’t know if this is a permanent feature or if it is just there for the school summer holidays or maybe different features go in this area but we loved it.

 

 

Huyton Central Library

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According to the internet, Huyton Library opened in 1997, however it felt brand new to me. Perhaps it has recently been refurbished although I doubt it as Knowsley had to reduce its libraries opening hours in order to meet budget cuts.


The building is modern although the doorway didn’t look too inviting (as I approached I couldn’t see any signs of life and I thought it might be closed!). Once through the automatic door I could see an art gallery ahead and the library to the right.

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The library was a pleasant surprise. The colour scheme of orange and blue really worked. There isn’t an enormous amount of book stock (Knowsley’s population is only about 150,000) but I liked the smaller touches. The knitting corner was lovely, the homemade chalk outline rug in front of the crime section was funny.

The children’s area on a separate mezzanine floor was very spacious, colourful and inviting (I noted the Elmer book boxes – that elephant gets around).

There was a rolling video of locals’ memories from the war in the middle of the library. I found the noise a bit strange but it did prevent the uncomfortable quiet that some libraries can have and there was  a quiet study area upstairs.

Also upstairs were computers, reference and a family history section, plus a display about  Huyton’s Internment Camp.

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The grand piano on the ground floor was a surprise. This is the first time I’ve seen a grand piano in a library but it looked right at home there!

All in all this library is one of my favourites so far.

Loughborough Central Library

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I walked into the new extension which felt up-to-date, welcoming and clean. However, this was the first time I’ve seen a (money) donation point in a library – slightly alarming.

There was a large book sale in the middle dominating the shop area. The signs were all modern and clear. I liked the seats snug between bookcases, many of which were on wheels.

The ladybird Shakespeare listening chair caught my eye but I was too scared of it to sit in it!

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Off to the side of the of the new build is a ramp to the 1905 Carnegie library which now houses the children’s library and the local studies library which felt like a museum.

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I didn’t see a great many members of staff but it was lunchtime. I also liked the ICT suite, the cycling maps, the public loos and the park opposite with marching band.

Leicester Central Library

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Leicester Central Library was hiding under a lot of scaffolding but we found the entrance in the end.

This library is another Carnegie Library and reminded me of the old Croydon reference library – similar architecture, floor and doors. Built in 1905 it is arranged on two floors. It still has a lovely ceiling and there were busts in the windows.

The heavy old wooden doors are automatic which is handy but made us jump as you don’t expect Edwardian doors to open by themselves!

Reading the local press from 2010 (and the BBC here), the lending and reference libraries used to be in two different buildings but were merged to save money. That does explain the kind of squashed hodge-potch that has been created although on principle I do prefer reference and lending services to be in the same place. Hopefully in the future there will be the money to address the layout properly.

The children’s library upstairs was just a corner but looked inviting – what a bright and clean rug! And look Elmer Day was also celebrated here recently. It must be annoying for parents that it is upstairs but there is a lift.

The sign made it clear which material was upstairs but I didn’t find the stairs that inviting even though they were decorated.

Even though we were there 20 minutes before closing time on a Saturday it was still very well populated. But unfortunately it’s the kind of library where you have to ask for a key to use the loos. I liked the ‘newspaper bar’ – a long wooden worktop area with storage of old papers underneath and then the surface was ideal for reading broadsheet newspapers.

The @Leicesterlibrar twitter feed is worth subscribing to if you’re local.

Welwyn Garden City Central Library

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Welwyn Garden City opened this new library at the end of 2012. It still feels very new and modern. I liked the funky seating areas.

The library wasn’t as full as the others I’ve visited lately but it was a Wednesday rather than a Saturday.

The library has a big sweeping, wood and metal central staircase.

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Downstairs had the children’s library, local studies, fiction and non-fiction lending books. Upstairs had plenty of study desks and reference material and nice views. I was attracted to the official publications section – probably because it was the day before the Brexit referendum. The stock was organised and easy to navigate with informative posters and leaflets provided on the shelves.

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There were fewer computers than in some of the other libraries but lots of study areas and places to plug in laptops. I didn’t see an opportunity to search the catalogue.

Oakham Library

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I think Rutland must be the smallest library authority. It has only four branch libraries and the council’s website doesn’t name any of them as the central library. However, Oakham Library looked like the biggest and it was near to Rutland Water which we wanted to visit.

However when we got there I could clearly see ‘County Library’ etched above the door, so I am happy for this to be the representative library for this county.

The library reminded me of my primary school era architecture. A small library befitting of the area but still had plenty of readers in. Separate study and IT areas off the side and the DVD section was vast.

The children’s library took up about a fifth of the site – which I approve of. I didn’t know there was such a thing as the annual Elmer Day so I have learnt something new!

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