Major building work is to start soon at Llanelli Library this summer as part of a £3.5million refurbishment.
It includes 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 will be 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.
Work is due to start in July and will take around 18 months to complete.
The Athenaeum, together with the nearby Llanelly House and Parish Church, are the oldest buildings in town.
It currently houses the Reference Library and Children’s Library on the first floor, and the Nevill Gallery (which hosts arts and crafts exhibitions) and a training/video conferencing room on the ground floor, together with a substantial atrium area.
The reference and music libraries along with the basic skills service are being moved temporarily to the top floor of the former British Legion Building in Vauxhall to enable work to start.
Other stock and services are being moved around to accommodate the work.
All other services including adult lending, children’s library and activities, will continue to be provided in the current library in Vaughan Street.
Following completion of phase three, a further capital bid will be submitted to fund phase four, which involves extensively remodelling the interior of the building.
Education and Children’s Services executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “The aim is to provide a wholly integrated, modern public library, housed in a safe, secure and attractive building, on the present library site in Llanelli.
“The vision is to integrate the older part of the building with the newer elements, in order to provide one, seamless, modern, state-of-the-art, public library service; to provide an iconic building, and to reinforce the library as a worthy regional headquarters for the area.
“It will also help develop the library as a community, learning, and cultural hub for the town and surrounding area.”
The adjacent Grade 1 listed building, Llanelly House, has also been awarded capital funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for complete refurbishment.
The two projects will develop side by side, complementing one another, thereby regenerating and providing a notable ‘cultural gateway’ to Llanelli.
