3D printer

Newcastle-under-Lyme

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I was in Newcastle-under-Lyme so decided to visit, even though I’ve already visited a library for Staffordshire – Stafford in 2018. Just like the Stoke library, I also had trouble finding this library as Google took me to this building:

However, I soon realised that I could see bookcases through the windows of the civic centre down the road. Castle House, which opened in 2018, is nestled in the lovely Queens Gardens which means most of the desks in the library have a decent view. The library shares the main space with the councils’ (Borough and County) customer service desks. Although I think this is a sensible use of space, I can see it causes confusion as libraries are generally open longer hours than Council departments and that confuses the user. Plus the role and skillset for library staff and Council workers is slightly different.

Newcastle is celebrating its 850th anniversary so there were lots of displays and bunting to mark this occasion, but also a nice display on autumn. There was a decent amount of book stock and chairs and (very comfortable) sofas but the place felt a little squished. I can imagine when people are waiting to speak to the Council staff it must get very busy and possibly noisy with the activity.

I couldn’t take pictures in the kids area as there several kids there and one having a tantrum, but there is a nice picture on this news report. It was a very open area with a ground and first floor with staff on both floors. However, the lift was out of order. There was a prime vacant area upstairs which was the money advice service – it will be interesting to see which body takes up the space. Would make a nice gallery because of the light in that front area of the building. There were also loos, a jigsaw and a 3D printer. Most of the computers and lots of the desks were in use by 11am on this Saturday.

Stafford Library

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Staffordshire County Council don’t designate a central library so I visited the county town’s library. The current Stafford Library was opened in 2015. The previous library had been based in the centre of town at the Shire Hall and there had been an even older Carnegie library in use before that. There was some disappointment that the new library was not centrally located (see the BBC article on the subject). However, it was argued that this library was more fit for modern requirements, with emphasis on the new Innovation Suite, coding club and 3D printer.

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The library still feels brand new and clean. The overwhelming décor is grey, green and glass. I have seen this signage, furniture and layout before in Rotherham library although there the colour pallet was grey and purple.

I liked the quotes on the walls but was surprised at how many TV screens there were. I think one had the news on with the sound up and another had local adverts. There were also several freestanding digital signs. There was a quite a lot of hussle and bustle and the man on the PCs giving his entire personal details during a mobile phone call was amusing (and trusting).

The children’s area was a corner of the large space. There was a reading hideway and a pond themed raised reading area that was really imaginative.

 

 

 

Manchester Central Library

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I was lucky enough to get a tour of the refurbished Central Library for Manchester after the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians conference in June 2017. A whole group of law librarians were shown around the Grade II listed 1934 building which underwent a major refurbishment in March 2014.

We congregated in the hall that had very impressive stained glass windows while we awaited our tour guide. When he arrived and told us about the refurbishment and pointed out that before the refit only 30% of the building was accessible to the public but now it is 70%. This was partly achieved by moving staff offices to a town hall extension.

We were taken up to the fourth floor which is a big circle. All around there is electric powered mobile shelving (it would be inaccurate to call it rolling stack – even though I want to). A really nice touch is that they have put pictures of well known Mancunians across the stack ends which really dresses up the shelves in what would have otherwise been a very boring vista. Every few metres there is a break in the shelving where there are some tables, chairs and study space – all of which were occupied (this was a Saturday afternoon).

There is an enormous reading room in the centre of the library which was packed with students revising for exams. The reference desk is still a feature in the middle but is no longer staffed. In fact it has a glass floor to let some light into the floor below.

We saw the former Chief Librarian’s Office which has now been converted into a meeting room with secret doors. There are other function rooms where they can hold ceremonies. The second floor has a Business and IP Centre run with the British Library to encourage young entrepreneurs. There is a mini lecture theatre where Google have held some talks. The library even has a 3D printer.

There are community dance rooms that can be hired and there was a troupe rehearsing in there while we are looking around. There are restaurant-style circular booths where people can watch footage from the North West Film Archive.

There is a very impressive music library with people playing drums and pianos in amongst the book shelves.

 

Useful study rooms off the corridors.

Manchester (20)

There is more book stock and the children’s library in a lower area that feels more modern, however it is less lit by artificial light and feels a bit subterranean. There was also a Nick Sharratt exhibition on outside the reading room.

There is a sizeable café and a local museum section plus the archives area which we didn’t get into.

An incredibly impressive library and community hub. There are similarities to Liverpool as there is the traditional reading room and modern areas. I don’t think I can choose between them.