Date fixed for Llanelli Library reopening
Llanelli Library is to have a grand reopening on St David’s Day following its £3.8million refurbishment. A programme of events and activities is being planned for the day, including school choirs and bands, dancers, and talks by local historians. It will start a week of activities to celebrate the reopening of the county council facility after around 18 months of work.
For two weeks prior to the opening, from February 13 until March 1, the library will be closed for staff to move all stock back into place.
The restoration work included protecting and preserving the older part of the building – the Grade 2 listed Athenaeum, one of the oldest buildings in the town centre. A reference library, children’s library, an arts/crafts exhibition area, video conferencing/training room, and a substantial atrium area is being housed in the building.
The work is phase three of the refurbishment, and follows extensive repairs in the newer part of the building which has provided a new adult lending library, a CD/DVD lending area and state-of-the-art IT suite with facilities for 27 public access computers. A ‘Return to Learn Centre’, providing a basic skills service, was also incorporated into the adult lending library in 2006.
The reference and music libraries along with the basic skills service were moved temporarily to the top floor of the former British Legion Building in Vauxhall, and will return to the library in Vaughan Street by March 1.
Education and Children’s Services executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Our aim was to provide a wholly integrated, modern public library, housed in a safe, secure and attractive building, on the present library site in Llanelli.
“We have integrated the older part of the building with the newer elements, in order to provide one, seamless, modern, state-of-the-art, public library service; providing an iconic building, and reinforcing the library as a worthy regional headquarters for the area.
“It will also help establish the library as a community, learning, and cultural hub for the town and surrounding area.”
Work to completely refurbish the adjacent Grade 1 listed building, Llanelly House, is also progressing. Along with the Parish Church, the Athenaeum at the library and Llanelly House are three of the oldest buildings in the town centre, and form a cultural quarter.
Cllr Wooldridge added: “It is pleasing to see that work is almost complete for this major refurbishment at Llanelli Library.
“We hope many people will come along to our reopening to see for themselves the excellent works done and the new improved services we are offering.”
For two weeks prior to the opening, from February 13 until March 1, the library will be closed for staff to move all stock back into place.
The restoration work included protecting and preserving the older part of the building – the Grade 2 listed Athenaeum, one of the oldest buildings in the town centre. A reference library, children’s library, an arts/crafts exhibition area, video conferencing/training room, and a substantial atrium area is being housed in the building.
The work is phase three of the refurbishment, and follows extensive repairs in the newer part of the building which has provided a new adult lending library, a CD/DVD lending area and state-of-the-art IT suite with facilities for 27 public access computers. A ‘Return to Learn Centre’, providing a basic skills service, was also incorporated into the adult lending library in 2006.
The reference and music libraries along with the basic skills service were moved temporarily to the top floor of the former British Legion Building in Vauxhall, and will return to the library in Vaughan Street by March 1.
Education and Children’s Services executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Our aim was to provide a wholly integrated, modern public library, housed in a safe, secure and attractive building, on the present library site in Llanelli.
“We have integrated the older part of the building with the newer elements, in order to provide one, seamless, modern, state-of-the-art, public library service; providing an iconic building, and reinforcing the library as a worthy regional headquarters for the area.
“It will also help establish the library as a community, learning, and cultural hub for the town and surrounding area.”
Work to completely refurbish the adjacent Grade 1 listed building, Llanelly House, is also progressing. Along with the Parish Church, the Athenaeum at the library and Llanelly House are three of the oldest buildings in the town centre, and form a cultural quarter.
Cllr Wooldridge added: “It is pleasing to see that work is almost complete for this major refurbishment at Llanelli Library.
“We hope many people will come along to our reopening to see for themselves the excellent works done and the new improved services we are offering.”
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