Chepstow library reopened on Saturday 21st January, throwing open its doors to reveal a new improved service following four months of refurbishment.
Nearly 700 people attending the relaunch were very pleased with the new layout and facilities on offer. The re-opening included balloon modelling for youngsters, local story teller Daniel Morden kept captivated children with his tall tales, members of the Gwent Family History Society were on hand to help people discover their roots and the Chepstow Society promoted the historic Chepstow Collection to customers interested in days gone by.
The refurbished library has been designed to deliver a much improved library provision with increased opening hours. In addition to an extensive range of books, DVDs and talking books, customers can now enjoy improved Internet access, free wi-fi and laptops for use within the library. Other features include an updated children’s area, an area especially designed for teenagers and a quieter area for family and local history research. Weekly activities will take in First Click basic IT sessions, story times for the under fives, baby rhyme times and family history research sessions. The library will open for an additional four hours on Wednesdays from 9am to 1pm.
Work on the library’s reading garden will continue throughout the winter months ready for a launch on World Book Night – 23 April 2012. Keen gardeners interested in joining the new Library Gardening Group or those requiring more information about the World Book Night book giveaway should contact library staff for more information.
Sally Bradford who manages the library with her jobshare colleague Sue Wallbank thanked staff for their hard work since September, initially transferring the library service to the town’s leisure centre then returning to the refurbished facilities. Sally said: “A massive team effort has played a large part in the design and success of the new library”
The refurbishment of Chepstow Library has been jointly funded by Monmouthshire County Council and CyMAL (Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales; a division of the Welsh Government) which is committed to creating a 21st century library network as part of the Libraries for Life programme.
Chepstow Library is open:
- Monday 9.00 – 5.30
- Tuesday 10.00 – 7.00
- Wednesday 9.00 – 1.00
- Thursday 9.00 – 7.00
- Friday 9.00 – 5.30
- Saturday 9.00 – 1.00
