Redesign of library near Oswestry may help its usage
Redesigning Gobowen Library could bring wider usage and generate new resources, retaining it at the heart of the community, a meeting was told.
Almost 50 people attended a public meeting in the village as part of a consultation over the future of the library.
The council says its smaller libraries cannot continue to be run as they are at present. In 2009/10 there were 14,823 annual visits and 285 weekly visits. But last year the numbers had dropped to 9,834 and 189, the meeting was told.
Teresa Ecclestone, north Shropshire senior librarian, said the council had won funding from the Government to support the transfer of the library into community ownership.
When questioned she said the community probably had until September to draw up a plan to manage the library.
Councillor David Lloyd said: "Gobowen has a wide range of halls which fulfil a valuable role. But the building that lies nearest the heart of the community is the library. Redesigning the library could mean wider usage and also generate new resources."
The meeting agreed to go forward with further consultation. Ideas put forward for widening the use of the library included offering 'hot desks' to businesses, a cafe and charging for the use of the building.
