renewal: new libraries for manchester

Renewal:New Libraries for Manchester

2 Renewal: New Libraries for Manchester

About Manchester Library & Information Service

Manchester Library and Information Service (MLIS) is part of Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Services Directorate. It delivers a wide range of leisure, cultural, learning and information services through a network of 22 community libraries, as well as a Central Library, four mobiles libraries, home library and Prison Library services. It also manages the Greater Manchester County Record Office on behalf of AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities).

MLIS has over 123,500 active members, issues over 2.3m items and attracts more than 3.3m visitors a year. IT and online services are a fast-growing business area: as well as delivering nearly 750,000 public access computer sessions in libraries, nearly 45,000 online reservations and 263,000 online renewals were made in the year to March 2009. The website’s local studies pages alone registered nearly 350,000 page views.

North City Library

East City Library

Renewal: New Libraries for Manchester 3

Foreword

Manchester’s Library Service has transformed itself. Change has been rapid, and the service is now winning awards, meeting national targets and has seen a sharp increase in customer satisfaction. The Library Service plays a vital role in the heart of every neighbourhood, underpinned by the expertise, treasures and Special Collections of Central Library. Homework Centres in libraries are helping children achieve at school, Health Information Points are providing important preventative information and advice and ICT classes are helping get residents back into work; just some of the ways libraries in Manchester are contributing to the life of the city.

These are very exciting times for the service, both in terms of building on the excellent work that has already been done, and in terms of future development with new buildings, new partnerships and new technology. This report outlines the journey so far and our commitment to replace every community library in the city within five years, as well as a major refurbishment of Central Library and the Archive Service.

Councillor Mike Amesbury Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Manchester City Council


About the Library Strategy

Part of the improvement of the overall service has been the delivery of significant capital investment in library buildings. The vision for the public library estate is being delivered over a five-year programme of modernisation, refurbishment or replacement so that libraries can:

• be safe, welcoming and attractive focal points in every community• be Access Points to council and other services• continue to improve against key performance indicators including resident

satisfaction and capital programme indicators such as energy efficiency.• further develop their role in discharging corporate priorities as set out in the

Community Strategy and the Regeneration Frameworks.• look at new ways of delivering services including some community ownership.

New libraries will be co-located and preferably integrated with other service providers ensuring libraries are at the heart of every neighbourhood delivering a wide range of local services.

Co-location means that the public library can also provide services for partners including schools and colleges, while library customers can benefit from the convenience of joined-up services. One example is the successful co-location of East City Library at The Manchester College. Library customers can enjoy the College’s subsidised cafe, hair and beauty treatments provided by students, while the college benefits from a wider range of people coming onto campus and a well-resourced library offer for its students, catering for both study and leisure needs.

North City Library

Forum Library

Levenshulme Library


Locations are vitally important in order that residents can access library services easily. Libraries will be on main roads with good access to public transport, ideally in or near a district centre and on corner plots when possible.

Underpinning the Strategy is a need to clearly articulate what libraries can offer. The Service is proposing a tiered library service with four defined levels of provision. Each will have a standardised and consistent offer to residents, to include size, opening hours, range of books, staffing, learning, reading and information services. Each new library will use new technology, featuring self-issue terminals, RFID stock control and free Wi-Fi for library members.

Four levels of service

City City centre, 20,000m2, open 67 hours a week including Sundays. Book stock to degree level, performance space, ICT suite, special collections, Health Information Points (HIPs).

District Co-located, 1,000m2, open 64 hours a week, including Sundays. Stock to advanced level, specialist staff. Strong children and homework support offer, meeting rooms, Access Point, ICT provision and courses, HIPS.

Community 450-900m2 co-located, open 46 hours a week. Book stock to popular level with peripatetic homework support, ICT provision, meeting room, early years services and HIPs.

Outreach 50-150m2, community locations, popular, book-based facilities, often in other partners buildings.

All this underpinned by the excellence of Central Library and a 24 hour virtual librarywith free reservations across the city so residents can access items of stock for freeregardless of where they live.

Central Library

North City Library

North City Library


Libraries online

Libraries are no longer just about buildings, and the website is an essential part of our service. Customers can use the site to search the catalogue, make reservations and renew what they have borrowed. You can even join online.

The site also features a vast online reference library, available to members from any computer, at any time. This 24-hour library features resources including Encyclopedia Britannica, The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford Reference, Newsbank (newspaper archive), Cobra (business information) and Naxos music streaming. Online services are proving popular with online users with a large rise in take up over the last two years.

Online Service 2007-08 2008-09 % Change

Reservations 37,565 44,934 +19.6%

Renewals 212,101 262,934 +24.0%

Web page views 558,034 684,505 +22.7%

24 Hour Library resources accessed

27,264 70,101 157.1%

Social networking and Web 2.0 resources play an increasingly important part in our communications. The library service has a presence on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/cyoyfc) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/manclibraries), as well as The Manchester Lit List (http://manchesterlitlist.blogspot.com), a blog where literature news and events are promoted.

Phase 1 (completed)

Forum Library

North City Library

Clayton Library

East City Library

Refurbishment Programme

Chorlton Library

Withington Library



Forum Library Forum Square, Wythenshawe M22 5RX

The original Forum Library opened in 1971 as part of the Forum complex featuring a leisure centre, theatre, main hall and meeting rooms. By the mid-1990s, however, it needed substantial refurbishment. Following a major refurbishment the new Forum is now well regarded and well used by local people, boasting adult education and Learndirect, gym and swimming pool, health centre, public hall, nursery and cafe, as well as one of the city’s largest and busiest libraries.

The Forum Library was completely upgraded with a new layout, new stock and comfortable areas for customers to relax. The library was the city’s first Access Point, enabling online or freephone access to council services. There is a large music and film library, meeting rooms, plus long and short stay computers for public use.

The first floor is intended for learning, both students and the wider public. It features a Learndirect centre and a wide range of reference and information resources.

The library also features some specialisms, supporting local economic and health-related priorities for Wythenshawe. These include a Health Information Point and a Macmillan Cancer Support Service and Information Points for businesses and inventors.

Before refurbishment Year ending 31 March 2009

Visits 212,680 299,478

Membership 10,198 11,701

Issues 182,947 188,189

Computer use 12,000 77,000


The Forum Library features a bright and exciting children’s area for reading, stories and play. It also has a fully refurbished homework

centre for study after school and at weekends. There is an extensive programme of holiday activity for children of all ages.Children’s Area, Forum Library


North City Library Rochdale Road, Harpurhey, M9 4AF

North City Library, which shares its home with North Manchester Sixth Form College, is a landmark and eco-friendly building in North Manchester. It opened in January 2006.

The building’s green credentials are a key feature: in addition to the photovoltaics (see opposite), solar panels which heat water for the building and rainwater is harvested for flushing cisterns. Exposed concrete floors and columns allow heat to be absorbed into the structure and under-floor hot water tubes provide heating. Lights are automatically controlled.

The first floor library has comfortable seats, self-issue terminals and an Access Point. There are bright and welcoming children and teen areas, plus baby changing facilities. The library features low-level, flexible shelving, glass exterior walls and a large, south-facing feature window, which gives spectacular views over Central Manchester.

The second floor focus is on learning. There’s a homework club, student resources, quiet areas, reference materials, computers, meeting rooms and a Macmillan Cancer Support Service. There are adapted computers with magnification and speech software, making library stock available to visually impaired people.


Visits 73,190 182,135


Issues 63,793 98,717



North City Library’s south-facing exterior wall is clad with blue photovoltaic tiles, which convert light into power. Since opening, the library has generated enough electricity to light a three-bedroom house for 172 years.

Walker Simpson Architects


Clayton Library The Wells Centre, 101 North Road, M11 4NE

October 2006 saw Clayton Library move across the road from its portacabin into Clayton Sure Start, based in the Wells Centre. The centre offers day care for young children, a cafe, adult basic skills classes and community health promotion.

The move enabled the library to offer a much more customer-focused service, with extended opening hours. The emphasis is on children and families at Clayton, with lots of activities, reader development work, stimulating children’s library spaces, homework support, baby changing facilities and a bright and attractive community meeting room.

New computers were installed, providing an Access Point to council services at the heart of the community. Customers can call into the library to borrow books, enjoy storytimes and other activities or simply to read the papers with a cup of coffee.

Partnership is at the heart of the Clayton Library offer: the library is an excellent fit in the Wells Centre, customers benefit from convenient, one-stop services and partners can enhance and add value to their own activities by making use of library resources.


Visits 9,100 44,748


Issues 15,945 16,029



“The library relocation has had a very positive impact on the Centre. People who may not necessarily have come in before are coming in to use the library. They are enquiring about, and taking up, services delivered in the children’s centre and we are also able to signpost families to other services in the area.”

Karen Camm, Head of Centre Clayton Sure Start Children’s Centre


East City Library The Manchester College, Ashton Old Road, Openshaw M11 2WH

East City Library is housed in Whitworth House, at The Manchester College’s flagship Openshaw campus.

The City Council operates the library for students and the public under an innovative management arrangement. The College was keen to open the campus up to the public and raise awareness of its student offer, while library customers can now take advantage of services previously only available to students.

The library is situated in a large modern foyer under a circular wooden canopy. It is clearly zoned with a well-defined children’s area and an enclosed homework centre in an adjacent former classroom. There is specialist, course-related stock for students and a quiet study area for both student and community use in the neighbouring Media Hall.

Installation costs were shared between the City Council and the College. A Service Level Agreement covers all operational arrangements including opening hours and access. The financial benefits of working in partnership have enabled a doubling of opening hours.


Visits 14,846 158,045


Issues 2,119 30,851



Designed to capitalise on the ebb and flow of students between classes, East City Library features outward-facing stock, quick-picks and clear zoning.


Partnership at Work

East City Library has benefited greatly from being on a campus, and the co-location has brought large numbers of people of all ages into the library and wider campus.

Library customers now have access to the College’s gym and cafes, they enjoy cut-price hair and beauty treatments in the college salon and they can eat in the subsidised cafe and training restaurant. Students, meanwhile, gain practical experience of dealing with real customers.

The library contributes to the College’s End of Year Shows and Health Awareness Days, and graphic design students have created spectacular shelf-end panels for the library. The College’s New Media team worked with the library to create joint projects for National Year of Reading.

Other recent projects have included the Discus team using the library to work with young offenders, disability awareness workshops for local primary school children, ESOL reading groups and work with teenage mothers. East-side outreach and youth work opportunities have been, and continue to be, exciting and varied.

The co-location and working partnership with The Manchester College offers a wide range of new opportunities and is of enormous mutual benefit. We hope to develop more joint use libraries together in later phases of our Renewal Programme.


Chorlton Library Manchester Road, M21 9PN

Chorlton Library is one of the city’s most popular libraries with over 214,000 visits in the year to March 2009. Built in 1914, with a flat roof extension added in the1960s, the library was in urgent need of both external repair and internal refurbishment.Works were carried out in January-February 2007 and were funded by Manchester City Council at a cost of £53,000

Roof repairs•

Recarpeting and redecoration of library and meeting room•

A full re-design of the library interior to improve accessiblity and comfort•

Upgrading meeting room kitchen and toilets•

Access improvements, including a ramp to the meeting room entrance•

Window repairs•

An improved reception area, with book displays and community information - this • involved the removal of the very large library counter and installation of a smaller, more customer-friendly service point.

New computer benching and the introduction of an Access Point•

A dedicated teenage area was created in the library in 2008, with a grant of £10,000 • awarded to young library customers by the Youth Capital Fund.

Creation of new accessible toilet facilities and a buggy park as part of the library’s • designation as a Sure Start hub


Withington Library 410 Wilmslow Road, M20 3BN

External items included a complete re-roof of the building (including renewal of the lantern lights and re-pointing and localised repair of parapet walling). Internally localised plaster repairs to walls and ceilings were made, as was; a full renewal of heating boiler plant, radiators and associated pipework. The library was recarpeted and redecorated throughout.

Work was completed by mid April 2008. Total cost was £197,700 funded by Manchester City Council.

Phase 2 (2009-10)Moss Side Powerhouse Library

Longsight Library & Learning Centre

Beswick Library

A New Library for South Manchester

The Avenue Library & Learning Centre

Refurbishment Programme

Levenshulme

Burnage

Fallowfield

Didsbury



Opens Sum

mer 2009

Moss Side Powerhouse Library 140 Raby Street, Moss Side M14 4SL

The Powerhouse is a facility for young people aged 8 to 25 which includes sport, leisure, study, a Connexions hub and training facilities and a library. The library has a high national and international profile and features in the national policy strand known as Fulfilling their Potential (FtP), which is about improving library services for younger people.

The library had outgrown its first-floor location and was in need of remodelling. Relocating to a larger, more prominent shop window position on the ground floor was an essential starting point. Other elements of the refurbishment include:

Incorporating new technology, including computers and free Wi-Fi for members •

Improving safety by incorporating security into the design •

Zoning the library, including quiet areas and places to relax or socialise•

Creating a bigger and better-resourced homework centre redesignation of the • former library space as a chill out zone, improving the Powerhouse reception area and the exterior of the building.

The refurbishment of the library has been enabled through an award of £1.1 million from the Big Lottery Community Libraries Programme.



The Powerhouse Library refurbishment has featured an unprecedented level of community involvement from young people working with the

architect to choose what goes into the new library.

Opens Sum

mer 2009


Opens Spring 2010

Longsight Library 519 Stockport Road, M12 4NE

Longsight Library is undergoing a major refurbishment, inside and out, to create a landmark library and learning centre for the A6 corridor, in partnership with Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES). The facade of the current red brick 1960s building has been removed, to make way for an attractive, modern glazed frontage, offering views into the library from the main road.

Longsight will be a flagship District library, open seven days a week and offering:

• A high quality fit-out, improved layout, re-zoning, new furniture

• Major improvements to heating, ventilation and toilets.

• New computers, super-fast broadband and free WiFi for library members

• RFID stock control and self-service terminals

• A new and improved Children’s Zone with story telling area

• A Homework Club repositioned at the heart of the library;

• Headspace - where young people can read and enjoy books, as well as browse the Internet – the first in Manchester;

The first floor Learning Centre will offer courses in music, languages, history, crafts, vocational and non-vocational ICT, ESOL, literacy and numeracy. It will feature five classrooms, a crèche facility, break-out spaces and community meeting rooms

A temporary library is currently operating from Longsight Youth Centre at 422 Stockport Road with additional mobile library stops in Longsight, before the new library opens in Spring 2010. The cost of the library is £2.3m funded by Manchester City Council and the Learning and Skills Council.


The solid brick facade of the old Longsight Library is to be replaced by glass cladding to create a busy shop window and attractive vistas into the library beyond.O

pens Spring 2010



Opens Septem

ber 2010Beswick Library Grey Mare Lane, M12

The East Manchester Academy is a cornerstone of Beswick’s regeneration. Due to open in September 2010, it will offer facilities for children aged 11-18. The new Beswick Library will occupy a prime space in the academy, spread over two floors. This is our first joint use school and public library.

Library features will include:

• A wide range of books and multimedia resources for leisure and recreational reading

• Self issue and return facilities and RFID stock control

• New computers, plus free one-to-one learning support

• Wireless Internet access for members

• Bright and welcoming clearly-zoned areas for children, families and teenagers

• Meeting rooms for the local community

The first floor, as well as meeting the needs of Academy students, will also serve the community with books, computers and quiet study, plus:

• A brand new after-school Homework Club for all children aged 8+

• Newspapers, magazines, general reference and local history collections.

• Advice and guidance sessions and quality learning opportunities such as basic IT training, basic skills, parenting skills, and family learning.

The library service will operate the library on behalf of the Academy and its partners, which include the City Council’s Children’s Services Department and sponsors, The Manchester College, Laing O’Rourke and Bovis Lend Lease. The Library is funded by Manchester City Council as part of the Academy building programme.


Beswick Library will feature a brand new Homework Centre, open to all local children aged 8-16. This

enables KS2 children to visit the Academy site too.



Opens A

utumn 2010

A New Library for South Manchester Moor Road, Wythenshawe M23 9BP

A £19m health academy, providing 600 places for 11-16 year olds with an additional 120 post-16 places, opens in Autumn 2010. The site will include a new public library meeting the needs of local residents.

The Library will offer:

A range of books for all ages and tastes •

Fun for tiny tots and toddlers with stories, songs and crafts, plus free creative crafts • and other activities for children and young people during school holidays

After-school homework club for children aged 8-16, serving local primary school • children - a safe and supportive place to learn

A Teen zone for relaxing and meeting friends•

Fast, free Internet access, plus one-to-one help getting started online•

Access Point for council services•

Benefits and employment advice•

Health Information Point, plus information for parents and carers•

The library is being funded by Manchester City Council as part of the Academy building programme. The cost for both Academy libraries is £3m


Opens A

utumn 2010

Ellis Williams Architects


Opens Septem

ber 2010The Avenue Library and Learning Centre Junction of Victoria Avenue/Rochdale Road, M9

A new landmark library and learning centre as part of a retail development on a major road junction in North Manchester. The building’s shell will be provided by a private developer as part of the wider scheme, while library and learning services will be delivered in partnership with Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES).

The ground floor (520sqm) will become a high quality library to replace Higher Blackley Library, offering a much wider range of stock and services than its predecessor. Self service machines will enable books to be automatically issued and returned and kiosks will allow customers to browse the library catalogue and book time on computers. There will be attractive, purpose-built provision for young people, children and families.

The upper floor will house the Learning Centre. All teaching rooms will be fully accessible and equipped with e-learning technology, including interactive whiteboards. The centre will also provide crèche facilities for learners’ children.

The North Manchester Strategic Framework recognises the importance of Higher Blackley and Charlestown as residential areas and this road junction is seen as the local district centre in terms of passing trade, retail offer and access to facilities and services. The Avenue Library and Learning Centre is right at the heart of this district centre.

The library and learning centre is in a very prominent position on a key arterial route, is well serviced by public transport and well located to support students from three high schools nearby, as well as residents in the area who can combine a library visit with a visit to the supermarket.


Opens Septem

ber 2010

Crouch Butler Architects


Levenshulme Library Cromwell Grove, Levenshulme M19 3QE

Levenshulme is a 1903 Carnegie library. It was closed between November 2008 and January 2009 for extensive repairs, refurbishment and redecoration.

Repairs carried out included:

Roof repair and renewal, plus replacement of rainwater management systems •

New window frames were installed to the side and rear windows, while the front • feature windows were repaired and unsightly security bars were removed.

The front wall was rebuilt and new fencing installed.•

Shrubbery was cut back with landscaping and localised repairs made to the side • ramp and boiler house.

Internally, repairs to plaster work were made, and the whole library was decorated • and re-carpeted, with new furniture and a greater emphasis on customer comfort.

The library is now a brighter, more welcoming space with a more coherent layout. Aspects of the building which had proved a challenge in terms of refurbishment (high ceilings, decorative beams and feature windows) are now attractive focal points.

The local area is celebrated with the use of pictures from the library’s images collection as shelf end panels, giving a uniquely Levenshulme look to the interior.

Work was completed at the end of January 2009. Total cost was £170,700, funded by Manchester City Council.


Burnage Library Burnage Lane, M19 1EW

Improvements to Burnage Library were completed in March 2009. The pitched roof was totally renewed, along with roof lights, guttering and all boundary fencing to grounds and car park.

Internally the building has been re-wired, with new switchgear, distribution boards and small power. All boiler plant and controls have been replaced.

Total cost was £95,000 funded by Manchester City Council.

Didsbury Library 692 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DN

Extensive repairs are being made to the tower and slated roof areas and a timber treatment is being applied to the whole roof. Fencing at the rear of the building is being replaced, as are the ornamental gates with new matching gates at the car park entrance. Thirty windows are being repaired and treated with a protective covering to prevent breakages. Plasterwork is also being repaired.

Work is expected to be completed in June 2009. Total cost will be £270,000 funded by Manchester City Council.


Fallowfield Library Platt Lane, Manchester M14 7FB

Fallowfield is getting a full re-wire, a new fire alarm and roof repair. The library is being re-carpeted and redecorated with a colour scheme in keeping with the art deco style of the building, which dates from 1932. Original features will be highlighted and an attractive new open-plan library layout will be created.

New comfortable seating throughout, with coffee tables, a newspaper stand, • tempting quick-pick and themed displays and community information noticeboards

An open enquiry desk including a new low section for wheelchair users•

A completely new teen zone, with study tables, a sofa, careers advice section etc•

A welcoming new area for children, with comfortable seating, a sofa and rugs•

Attractive shelf-end images featuring scenes from old Fallowfield•

Work is expected to be completed by July 2009. Total cost will be £194,633 funded by Manchester City Council.

Phase 3 (2010-13)Central Library

Archive Centre

City Library



Central Library St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Restoring the Grade II* listed Central Library offers the opportunity to reshape the way library, information and archive services are delivered in central Manchester. The newly refurbished Central Library will provide the majority of the historic, academic and treasured services, while City Library (see pp38-39) will offer community library services as part of a residents’ service centre.

The current building will offer more than the traditional range of library services – it will be one of Manchester’s must-see destinations. It will be restored sympathetically, enhancing the original features and creating a beautifully designed space in which to showcase services.

On the ground floor, Shakespeare Hall will be restored to its former elegance, revealing the original stone floor. The famous Henry Watson Music Library, will be returned to its original ground floor location. The outer ring of the first floor will house the main book collections and have study spaces, using the original furniture where possible.

On the first floor, it is proposed that the magnificent Great Hall will house the city’s Archive Reading Room (see pp36-37), plus display areas for the treasures from our special collections and a quiet study area.

The second floor will contain a performance area for authors and poets; public meeting rooms and private study spaces, and a space for exhibitions, events and receptions.

The third and fourth floors, currently used for offices and storage, will be retained for future commercial opportunities and in the meantime could be transformed into a suite of civic meeting rooms to complement community meeting rooms on the second floor. The cost of the refurbishment is in the region of £50m and will be funded by MCC

A temporary library will be operated on Deansgate less than 5 minutes walk from the current library for the duration of the building works.

Opens 2013

Opens 2013

The BFI Mediatheque is an ever-expanding digital jukebox for film and television, currently containing over 1,000 titles. A new Mediatheque for the North West region will be a key attraction in the new Central Library. All Mediatheque content can be enjoyed by the public - totally free - at the click of a mouse, providing an exciting and unique window into the social and cultural history of Britain. Photo courtesy of BFI


Archive Centre

The redeveloped Central Library will celebrate and showcase Manchester’s treasures, by bringing the city-wide Archive service and the Greater Manchester County Record Office (GMCRO) together, along with complementary partners, to create a combined archive, providing high quality customer services and access. The core partnership also comprises:

Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre •

Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society •

Manchester Registry Office (historic registers and certificate service)•

North West Film Archive•

British Film Institute (BFI) • Potential exists for wider partnerships with organisations including The National Archives, the Family Research Centre and other archive and local studies services across the region.

Key features of the Central Library Archive Centre include:

Customer-facing focus: improved services and access to complementary collections • in one place. Until now, customers have had to arrange visits to several locations.

Communities’ rich archival heritage and culture will be provided in an iconic, much-• loved landmark building in an ideal location for local and regional transport links and the city centre’s ‘Knowledge Corridor’ of further and higher education institutions.

High quality access and interpretation facilities, including an ICT suite, cinema area, • learning spaces and breakout areas.

Opens 2013

Rochdale Road 1900 S. L. Coulthurst

Burial entry for Juba Royton, Negro 1771

Jewish Refugees Committee Casebook


A unique partnership, bringing together film, photograph and written archives for the • first time.

Treasures and Special Collections – the gems of the library collection will be securely • displayed, with an exhibition area for in-house and external displays.

The city’s key family history collections, resources and expertise available under the • same roof for the first time, creating a one-stop-shop for family history.

Staff and volunteers from partner organisations will enable a significant increase in • the range and level of learning and community outreach

High quality storage and a conservation studio, ensuring that collections survive for • future generations. The majority of partners’ collections will be housed on-site, but some additional BS5454 compliant storage will also be available off-site with a 24 hour retrieval service.

The name of the Centre will be determined before opening in the refurbished basement area of Central Library.

Water Lilies by Peter Henry Emerson 1886

Aquatint by Thomas Rowlandson

Children in Chorlton-on-Medlock 1965

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University


City Library Town Hall Extension, St Peter’s Square, M60

The city centre will also be home to a newer, vibrant, family and community library, based in the ground floor of the Town Hall Extension

An express lending and information service will be provided, designed to reflect retail bookshop display and promotional solutions, having comfortable soft seating and refreshments. The area will house a large lending offer reflecting popular non-fiction, contemporary fiction and best sellers in both film and music.

City Library will feature:• A state of the art lending library service • Facilities for customers who are in a hurry, customers wanting a 24hr service and

those customers who want to linger • An attractive, simple to use, single floor layout • Clear guidance throughout, including links to the Central Library offer. • A clear customer focus, rather than a stock or service focus • Collections to reflect Manchester’s diverse communities to include languages such

as Chinese, Somali, Polish, French, Farsi/Persian, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu, Vietnamese and many more.Children’s Library• Teenage Library• Learning and Computer Centre• Health Information Point• Latest self service technology• 24/7 access•

Opens 2013


Opens 2013

Consultation with residents on the emerging Customer Strategy has indicated that co-locating libraries with access to other Council Services is proving popular. There are natural synergies between the information services provided by the library service and those of a wider Town Hall Customer Service Centre (THSC).

The THSC will be a one-stop shop where residents will be able to find answers to a range of queries and gain improved access to specialist services through the introduction of an open diary policy and booking system. Residents will have self-service access to the centre 24 hours a day, providing an effective and convenient way for them to do business with the City.

Phase 4 Work has not yet begun on phase 4 of the programe but keep an eye on our website

www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries for the latest news.For further Information contact

Nicky ParkerHead of Library & Information Services

[email protected]

Neil MacInnes Head of Service Improvement

[email protected]

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renewal: new libraries for manchester

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