Work is underway to revamp Carmarthen Library in the lead up to the building’s 250th anniversary.
Renovation work is being undertaken as a joint project between Carmarthenshire County Council and CyMAL, and is part of an overall investment in the county’s three main libraries.
A host of improvements are being made – including a makeover of the Children’s Library to reflect the changing needs of younger visitors. New computers have already been installed in both the IT Suite and the children’s section.
The hall and exhibition area is also being revamped to cater for the demand for larger meetings. Extra meeting spaces and a more user-friendly exhibition space are part of the overall scheme.
Externally, the library will get a fresh lick of paint, access will be improved and external lighting around the building is being upgraded.
Work has also begun to improve the energy efficiency of the building.
The library will be open during the refurbishment, which should be completed in February, although some of the facilities might not be fully available during the work.
Wil Phillips, library services manager, said: “We will try to keep any disruption to a minimum, and would like to thank our visitors for their patience whilst we undertake the improvement works. We hope to complete the scheme within the next few weeks, and will look forward to welcoming regular visitors, and hopefully some new visitors too.”
2011 marks the 250th anniversary of the library building. Originally built as a house, it has been used as a library since the early 1970s.
An exhibition will be held later this year to celebrate this milestone, and is asking for help from members of the public who may have any photos, paperwork or artefacts related to the building that could form part of the exhibition.
Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge, executive board member for heritage and libraries, said: “This is an important year for Carmarthen Library. We are proud to be able to work in partnership with CyMAL to make sure that the library is looking and working at its best as it marks this historical milestone.
“This investment is also being reflected in the libraries at Llanelli and Ammanford, where we are continuing to improve facilities – making them dynamic, vibrant and more accessible to our customers.”
Anyone who thinks they may have useful material and is interested in contributing to the exhibition should contact Sharon Morgan on 01267 224824 or contact the library via email at [email protected].
