Celebrations as Wolverhampton Libraries gain Lottery funding for new Wednesfield Library
Released: 30 October 2007
The Big Lottery’s Community Library Fund has awarded Wolverhampton libraries £1,497,297 towards a project to build an exciting new library in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.
The proposed new library will be sited on the corner of Well Lane and Rookery Street, Wednesfield and will allow for greatly extended library facilities as well as a set of community meeting rooms and offices for Wednesfield Neighbourhood Management.
Cllr John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said:
“This is a tremendous achievement for the library service. A new library replacing the cramped existing building has long been an ambition for the council and the people of Wednesfield. This new library, part of the ongoing development of the Wednesfield village centre, and the community facilities within it will be a visible landmark building for the area.
The library will be near the important focal points in Wednesfield – shopping areas, transport links - and will present a new vision for 21st Century libraries, working with local communities and other partners to support learning, health and neighbourhood renewal across the city”, he added.
Assistant city librarian, Andrew Scragg said:
“We are really pleased to have been selected from the hundreds of applications to the Big Lottery. We now have the opportunity to create a new neighbourhood library that meets the needs of the people of Wednesfield – and will do so for many years to come.
We have already been talking to a number of groups about what they want from the library – increased space for children, more computers, study facilities - and we will continue to involve local people in designing the services that we will provide from their new library”, he added.
John Taylor, Head of West Midlands region, Big Lottery Fund said:
"We are delighted to be investing £1,497,297 of Big Lottery funds in Wolverhampton. We believe Wednesfield library can act as a beacon for community learning and help put the Library at the very heart of the local neighbourhood. By ensuring local people are involved in the planning and running of local services, we believe libraries will become more responsive, effective and attract more users."
The new library is expected to be open in the autumn of 2009. Until then a full range of library services will continue to be provided from Wednesfield Library in Church Road, Wednesfield.
Issued by the press office.