reading hideaways

Hastings Library

~ librarytouristblog

Hastings Library is located in a very interesting building. It feels like a chapel of reading. The building was refurbished in 2018. There’s some excellent images on the architect’s website where they describe it as a “Grade II listed, Italianate gothic revival style building constructed in 1878 and donated to the town by Lord Brassey.” 

The library is on four floors and I expect making the building accessible to all has been a challenge, but each floor has its own character and feel. The large ceilings and windows contribute to the chapel feel and bring in lots of light even on a December day. 

There are modern desks, computer stations and study booths dotted around the building. I couldn’t take a picture of the children’s library as there were children present, but the reading nooks built into the room divider looks comfy and imaginative. There were staff on most floors who engaged with us and offered to help and modern self-service kiosks. There was also an extensive local history section (1066 and all that).

Stoke City Central Library

~ librarytouristblog

***100th library visited so far***

A new library had opened in Stoke a few days before I visited. This meant I had trouble finding the new building! Although the website, and the door on the old building, told me the address was 2 Smithfield, it was rather hard to work out which building was number 2. I had to ring the library and the nice librarian directed us round the corner. Another family was also standing outside and they followed us to the new library.

The new building was very welcoming and friendly. It had a very warm feel – possibly the heating was on – but also the wood furniture and the burnt orange colour scheme were well chosen.

There was plenty of staff and two desks, one on the ground floor and one on the mezzanine. The loos were nice although a code was needed to get in and you had to press a button to exit – possibly unnecessarily complicated. The stock and chairs and desks were dotted around the library maximising space and privacy. There were plenty of people in for a Friday afternoon, even though it was 1 hour before closing time.

There is a reading step area. The children’s library had hidey holes in the wall to read in.

The lights are very arty – I really liked them.

Riverside House – Rotherham

~ librarytouristblog

 

Riverside House reminded me of Rochdale. Both are modern library buildings mixed in with community services in a riverside setting, in a place starting with R, with big curved glass doors and with grey and purple as the décor theme!

The library takes up the ground floor in a U shape. There are swipe gates in the middle for the council staff to access the council offices. The library areas were very nice and modern but not that big. It also includes an exhibition area at one end of the library and some display cases with pottery in at the entrance.

The children’s area was great, with a stage area still kitted out from Halloween and a reading hideaway.

 

 

 

Bradford City Library

~ librarytouristblog

Bradford c Michael Taylor
(c) Michael Taylor 2014

The entrance to Bradford City Library is quite small but then there’s a much larger area upstairs.

According to Wikipedia this library opened in 2013 after it was found that the previous building housing the library was a fire risk and had asbestos in its walls.

The new library is situated on Centenary Square which has cafes, bars, a theatre, gallery and museum and the stunning town hall and other municipal buildings surrounding a mirror pool. Kids were playing football outside and a film was being projected on the wall.

It was a lovely complex, full of life even on a cold November evening.

The library reminded me a little of Brighton library, particularly upstairs, even though it is much smaller. I think it was the metal and glass stairs, grey carpet and the use of pale wood.

 

The children’s library has the reading hideaway chairs that are very popular. Only now that I am looking at my photos have I realised that the children’s area was decorated with underpants!

Even though it was Saturday and the library was closing in 30 minutes time there were still about 40 customers and 5 members of staff in the library. It also looked like there was an activity in the adjoining gallery – it was hard to tell where the library ended and the gallery/activity room began which I’m sure is a deliberate attempt to invite people into both spaces.