Plans submitted for work to merge Leicester city centre libraries
A merger between two city centre libraries is one step closer after Leicester City Council submitted its planning application.
The £500,000 scheme involves incorporating the main Belvoir Street library into the smaller Bishop Street branch, next to Town Hall Square.
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Bishop Street library in Leicester
The application for interior work to the grade two listed building includes renovating the foyer, redecoration, lighting improvements and new shelving.
Leicester City Council hopes the closure of the Belvoir Street library will save about £228,000 a year.
The money will be used to fund library services in other areas of the city.
However, some library users are against the proposals.
Nick Knight, from Stoneygate, said: "It's very disappointing and shows a lack of civic ambition and I feel that it's just another example of the city centre becoming a cultural wilderness."
Maureen Jarvis, 66, from Braunstone, said: "I can't see how they will fit everything from the Belvoir Street library in here as well.
"I think the idea of having all the services in one place is a good one, but it's going to be a bit cramped."
The new Leicester Central Library will combine resources from both branches – books from the Central Lending Library and the learning and information services from Bishop Street. A spokesman said the decision to move all of its services under one roof would make it "more convenient and less confusing for users".
The merger will also see the equivalent of 14 full-time posts cut.
Once the move is complete, the council will look at the possibility of using the Belvoir Street building to replace the City Gallery, in Granby Street, as plans for a £2.4 million art gallery in New Walk are reconsidered.
A spokesperson for Leicester City Council said: "A planning application has been submitted to make key improvements to the library building in Bishop Street, including a refurbished foyer and significantly increased space for books, services and facilities on the two public floors.
"A decision on the application is expected in the next six weeks."
Members of the public have three weeks to submit comments to the council regarding the planning application.
To view the application online visit the council's planning database and search for application number 20101253.
www.leicester.gov.uk/planningdatabase
9 Comments
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by Joseph, Leicester
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 8:40AM
“This is shameless money-saving and disgraceful. The council are taking away the best known and most used library in the city to shove it into a back street location which doesn't ave anywhere near enough space. I strongly reccomend everyone who disaproves enough to comment on here should be writing their complaints to the council themselves and our various MP's for the different area's, (South, Peter Soulsby, Keith Vaz and Patricia Hewitt). Complaining on here does nothing, complaining to them may do something, especially if enough of us do!”
by Nick Knight, Stoneygate
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:16PM
“The Bishop Street library was built (using an endowment from steel millionaire and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie) at a time (1905) when self-improvement among the working and middle-classes and the growth of public lending libraries were both reaching their peak.
It¿s a historically significant and beautiful building and the only positive aspect of these plans is that they will see a more sensible use of the interior space and the sympathetic restoration of original features such as the mosaics and wood flooring.
This could create a real book-lovers¿ environment. It could create the sort of congenial surroundings that, combined with a first-rate service, will encourage reading, browsing and the quiet curiosity that all library-lovers have. Then, at least what we have lost in quantity, we'll be gaining in quality.
Whether it does or not, we¿ll have to wait and see.”
by Judi, Narborough
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:12PM
“Absolutely disgraceful decision. Other towns in the UK are investing in their libraries to make them more open and interesting for people, and in particular, children, to come and discover the joys of reading and ours has seemingly decided to go the opposite way.
This "more convenient and less confusing" is a pitiful excuse for saving money when it is the people of Leicester who will lose out.”
by Karen,, Wigston
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 7:23PM
“Why didn't they just move bishop street Ref Library into the existing building of Central Library. Central is a lot bigger building surely this would have made more sense. Hang on this is LCC we're talking about.”
by Peter Pan, Leicester
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:35PM
“Why are the council even pretending to go through the planning process? They carried out a 'public' consultation (at taxpayers expense) when they clearly had already made up their mind about what they were going to do.
Growing up, I learned so much about history etc through the many books they had at Central Library. I could not have afforded to buy them all. Well done bureaucrats! Dumbing down, brought to you courtesy of Leicester City Council.”