Transfer marks new chapter for Shifnal Library
Shifnal Library will close for seven weeks from next month to be refurbished as part of plans for the town council to take control of the service.
Shifnal Town Council is to take over the running of the library from Shropshire Council following a public consultation.
The library and customer service point will be temporarily closed from February 1 until March 21. Work will be carried out to move the town council offices from their present location, in Broadway, into the library.
The refurbishment will also create a modern community space for the library and customer service point.
Stuart West, Shropshire Council's leisure and culture chief, said: "Libraries play a vital and integral part in our local communities.
"Over the past 12 months, Shropshire Council and Shifnal Town Council have been working extremely hard with partners and the local community to find ways that will enable our library to remain open.
"As a result of this I am delighted that Shifnal Town Council are taking over the running of Shifnal Library on our behalf.
"This is a great opportunity for the councils to safeguard the library services for local residents and to continue to provide a valuable service to the people of Shifnal and the surrounding area for generations to come.
"In the meantime, we do apologise for any inconvenience whilst Shifnal Library goes through refurbishment. I hope users of the library and customer service point will enjoy the much improved facilities when it opens."
Meanwhile, a mobile library will be available most Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, until the reopening of Shifnal Library.
Elaine Moss, Shropshire Council's library area manager south, said: "We know how important the library is to residents in Shifnal and we do apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but we want to help all we can.
"Prior to the closed period, people may borrow as many books as they like and either return them to the mobile library, another Shropshire Council library or keep them until Shifnal Library reopens."
A total of 89 per cent of those who responded to the public consultation opted for the transfer of the library to the Shifnal town council.
The consultation was part of wider work which Shropshire Council undertook in response to central government cuts.
For more information visit shropshire.gov.uk/libraries
If anyone has a council query, they can visit another customer service point or call 0345 678 9000.
