An open day to show customers around the prospective new home of Collingwood Library proved a success, with dozens of people turning out to see what was planned.

The library will be moving around 100 metres from former shop premises on The Broadway to Broadway Gardens, Bushbury, later this year.

The move will create a new self-service library, enabling customers to take out, return and renew their books at the touch of a button.

The relocation of Collingwood Library will add to the range of facilities available at Broadway Gardens, the ExtraCare retirement scheme which has 56 one and 2 bedroom apartments for older people. It already offers day services for local older people, and residents and social club members benefit from a wide range of activities including a gym, restaurant and IT suite.

Dozens of customers and local residents came along to the open day and spoke to council officers, councillors and members of staff from Broadway Gardens about the new service. They were able to see for themselves the proposed layout of the new library and artist's impressions of how it could look. Many also enjoyed a guided tour of Broadway Gardens in the company of its residents.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "We had a very good response from people who came along to the open day - they were really interested to find out what their new library will be like and also to find out more about Broadway Gardens.

"I'd like to thank the staff at ExtraCare for helping to arrange the event, and to the residents who gave up their time to show the visitors around Broadway Gardens."

The relocation of Collingwood Library is part of a wider review of library provision in the city which aims to safeguard the service at a time of major budget cuts. Councillor Mattu said: "People seemed to understand the financial pressures that the council is under and were very pleased that we were able to safeguard their library service.

"The city council has already made savings of around £100 million over the last 5 years, but we estimate that we need to find further savings of £86 million by 2018 to 2019.

"As a result we've had to take steps to reduce the cost of all our services and I'm pleased to say that, unlike many other parts of the country, we have been able to retain all of our libraries.

"A couple of visitors said they were concerned about the relocation, but we tried to explain to them the reasons behind it and just asked that they give the new library a go and see what they think of it then."

The library will move to Broadway Gardens later this year and will initially continue to operate its present opening times of 10am to 1pm on Tuesdays, 2pm to 5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. It is hoped that opening hours may be extended in future to take advantage of the self-service facilities.

Anyone who couldn't attend the open day but would like more information about the relocation of Collingwood Library is invited to call Paddy Quick, Wolverhampton City Council's Community Services Manager, on 01902 556273 to find out more.

  • released: Tuesday 13 August, 2013