Major revamp of Aylesbury Library to start in August 2018
Aylesbury Library. (Archive picture)
A major revamp of Aylesbury Library is to start in August 2018.
During the revamp the Aylesbury Library building in Walton Street will be gutted and completely refurbished and the reference library and lending library will be brought under the same roof. A number of fantastic new and modern facilities fit for the 21st Century will also be built into the new library.
The library update is part of a wider regeneration plan for this part of Aylesbury which also includes proposals for a new hotel, new apartments and a new restaurant.
The design of the new, modern library will be dementia friendly with a completely new layout, it will include:
- Improved online facilities with better wifi and power for customers using their own devices.
- New self service technology.
- A new ‘teenage’ area creating a new space in the lending library for group study.
- New meeting rooms and modernised toilets and a new baby-changing area.
- A modernised children’s area, complete with a colourful new sensory wall.
- Longer opening hours.
The final design takes on board comments from library users with more than 750 people giving their feedback during a consultation on the plans in 2017 which included a number of open days and a survey. Each and every response to the consultation was looked at and considered when the plans were finalised.
The works also include a number of comprehensive improvements behind the scenes to modernise the structure and space, such as new heating, lighting and ventilation systems and better network connection.
While the renovation works take place the lending library will move into Aylesbury Study Centre.
The lending library on Walton Street will close its doors at 2.00pm on Thursday 9th August 2018 and will then operate out of Aylesbury Study Centre over the summer and into the Autumn until the refurbishment is finished.
Aylesbury Study Centre will close for a long weekend to allow the move to take place. It will close at 2.00pm on Thursday 9th August 2018 and reopen at 9.00am on Tuesday 14 August 2018.
The building works are expected to last into the Autumn and are due to complete in November 2018 after which the new library will open its doors to the public.
Aylesbury Study Centre will close when the current facility is integrated into the new library and discussions are ongoing as to how the space will be used in the future.
Aylesbury Study Centre is a short walk from the Aylesbury Library building and is part of the County Council’s New County Hall complex.
Aylesbury Study Centre is easily accessed step free via Friars Square Shopping Centre. Library users can also access it via steps from Walton Street.
Noel Brown, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health said: ‘This is really exciting for Aylesbury and it’s great that the town is getting the fantastic, modern library it deserves. We know the current building is out of date and this will create a wonderful new space for people of all ages to enjoy.
It also makes sense to bring the reference library under the same roof – this way we will create an up to date, easy to access library for all. It will be colourful, modern and inviting and will be a fitting part of the wider regeneration and modernisation of this part of Aylesbury.
We do ask people to bear with us while we’re making the changes but we’re pleased we can still offer the lending library facility from Aylesbury Study Centre while the refurbishment takes place – just a short walk away.‘
