Date posted 18 Nov 2019
Share

A new £320,000 Council investment in Bromley’s Central Library will transform the borough’s flagship facility.

The upgrade work will include a dynamic creative play space for younger library users as well as offering better study space and places to relax and read, enjoying panoramic views over the London skyline.

GLL – the not-for-profit charitable social enterprise that operates the borough’s 14 libraries in partnership with Bromley Council – will start work on 25 November transforming the 40 year old town centre venue.

Children now borrow almost half the books issued from libraries in Bromley and the children’s section of Central Library will be transformed into an exciting destination for youngsters with a new Children’s Library and ‘Toyland’ - a creative play space featuring characters and themes from the stories of Enid Blyton, herself a former Bromley resident.

A GLL spokesperson said, “We are working to minimise the disruption through this refurbishment period and library users should note that from Monday 2 December to Saturday 7 December, a temporary ‘Pop Up’ library will be provided for customers in the Hall on the 4th Floor with an ‘express service’ – including library returns and a small selection of adult and childrens fiction. Further details will be available on our website.”

Books will sit alongside PCs and tablets offering age appropriate content for browsing, entertainment and games.

Adults will benefit from a new IT suite with super-fast, quality printing and enlarged study spaces.

Quiet areas will be created for people who want to study in silence as well as space for those who want to work together and chat while they do so.

The redesign of the building will allow customers to take full advantage of unobstructed views across London: the arrangement of shelving and seating will allow customers to relax with a book while taking in the view of nearby woodland – and Greater London in the distance.

To reduce the impact on the environment, improvements will feature LED lighting and sustainable sourced shelving and furniture.

For the first time, public toilets are being installed too, so library users can stay and enjoy the space for longer.

In order to undertake the refurbishment, the library will be closed for 1 week from Monday 25 November to Saturday 30 November 2019.

From Monday 2 December to Saturday 7 December, a temporary ‘Pop Up’ library will be provided for customers in the Hall on the 4th Floor with an ‘express service’ – including library returns and a small selection of adult and childrens fiction.

From Monday 9 December to Saturday 21 December, the library will partially reopen, however some areas will remain closed whilst refurbishment works continue.

Library loans have been extended until Monday 16 December to allow for the disruption in service.