Best-selling Gloucestershire novelist Katie Fforde cut the ribbon to formally open Stroud Library at its new location in the Five Valleys Shopping Centre.
It has moved from its old location in Lansdown to a more central and accessible site in the centre of the town.
The formal launch day on Friday 19 July was attended by leader of Gloucestershire County Council Cllr Mark Hawthorne and included a guided tour of the library for guests, a Lab demo and an author networking event.
The library has proved extremely popular with customers since it first opened to the public in its new location in April, when it welcomed around 750 customers on the opening day.
In the period from April to June it has welcomed 35,778 visitors and 815 new members have joined. A range of activities are held at the library for people of all ages, including Story Time and Baby Bounce and Rhyme, dance and craft workshops and digital support sessions.
The library, based on the lower ground floor of the shopping centre in King Street, is in a completely refurbished area where you can browse a vast range of adult and children’s books.
The Lab area provides the opportunity to experience 3D design/print, Virtual Reality, access to the full adobe creative suites, and much more. Other services include a new bookable meeting room, printing and free access to computers and self-serve digital tablets for members.
The library is free to join and people are encouraged to sign up at: https://gloucestershire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN
For opening times, contact details and events, please see: gloslibraries.uk/library/stroud-library
Further information on plans for the old library and neighbouring church will be available at an engagement event very soon. This is currently planned for mid-August.
Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for libraries at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I’m delighted Stroud Library has now opened in its new location and is proving so popular with customers. They are pleased the library is now based in a more central spot and have given really positive feedback.
“It offers a wide range of services, as well as a comprehensive range of books, so I would encourage anyone who hasn’t visited yet to pop in and see what is on offer.”
Also on show was the new Memory Box service, containing everyday objects from the past. The boxes can be borrowed by family members and informal carers, as well as anyone living with dementia and who feels they would be useful to bring back memories and stories.
Chris Moore from Fair Shares said: “We’ve done this project with the library service to launch Memory Boxes in Stroud and Stonehouse Libraries as well as care homes around the county.”
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
