A NEW library in St Helens town centre has moved a step closer after a key contract was awarded to carry out refurbishment work in The World of Glass.
The town centre has been without a library since Central Library, based in the Gamble Building, closed for urgent repairs in March 2017.
Back in April 2018 St Helens Council announced plans to establish a temporary library at The World of Glass, part of wider plans to turn the museum into an arts and cultural centre.
Earlier this month, a decision through delegated powers to award the contract for the refurbishment works for the library at The World of Glass.
New staff have also been appointed in preparation for the move.
Cllr Anthony Burns, cabinet member for public health, leisure and libraries, said: “We’re excited to see the project progress at The World of Glass to accommodate a town centre library, with the contract for the necessary refurbishment now awarded and a new staff team appointed.
“Our ambition is to improve the cultural offer in St Helens town centre with the development of an arts and cultural centre in this iconic building.
“We’ll be able to share more details about the work and the progress of the move over the coming weeks, and aim to have the library up and running at The World of Glass for residents to visit soon.”
A firm date has still not been set for the opening of the new town centre library, although it is expected to open its doors this winter.
As previously reported in December, a decision was taken to revise the opening hours for the borough’s libraries, in preparation for the new library.
It is understood that overall operational hours across all libraries will need to be reduced to similar levels that were in place prior to Central Library closing.
Labour’s Kate Groucutt, cabinet member for futures and performance, said last April that the new library would be a temporary arrangement.
However, it is understood the move could end up being permanent if sufficient plans for the regeneration of the Gamble are agreed.
A public consultation on the future of the Gamble was planned to take place between October and December 2019 but has yet to take place.
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