Rotherham libraries to be given revamp after plans are approved

The council hope that the upgrades will attract new users to the borough's 15 libraries.

A survey undertaken by the council found that more than 600,000 people used Rotherham's 15 libraries each year, and the majority say it is important to have "modern, clean and welcoming" spaces.

The council plans to invest in a number of improvements to the boroughs libraries, such as £405,000 to upgrade IT facilities, cafe and toilet facilities, and £1m for better furniture, signs, and digital screens.

There are also plans to relocate the central library from Riverside House to the town centre as part of the markets redevelopment.

A new civic building would be built to house the library using cash from the council's application for the government's future high street fund.

The council also wants to encourage more people to volunteer at their local library, and plan to launch a community-managed library at Brinsworth.

If accepted, the pilot will begin in April 2021.

During today's meeting of the council's cabinet (October 19), Polly Hamilton, assistant director of culture, sport and tourism told councillors how valuable the library had been to its users, even during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Ms Hamilton told the meeting that calls were made to vulnerable library users who were shielding, which was an important way for members to be connected. They were referred for additional services if needed.

She added: "The important thing is the investment in library buildings. Targeted and co-produced work is really important in terms of engaging with young people. We are trying to investigate why we have such a big drop off when children reach high school age.

"We've prioritised the needs of disabled people. And we've also prioritised black asian minority ethnic communities. We've created a digital shelf that celebrates black authors. We've been doing lots of posts on Facebook to really showcase and celebrate black authors."

As part of the upgrade, Thurcroft's Library could be relocated to Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, because of the limitations caused by the library being housed in Thurcroft Junior Academy.

Swinton's Library is also in line for improvements - it is proposed to move the library into the former customer service centre with cafe and meeting spaces.

Work is scheduled to begin by November 2020.

Councillor Sarah Allen quoted Caitlin Moran at the meeting when introducing the report, saying: “A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival.

"They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead”

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