Hammersmith Library to Close for Refurbishment
Temporary facility to open in King Street in October
Hammersmith Library on Shepherd's Bush Road will be closed for refurbishment from Thursday, October 3.
A temporary facility will be open at 181 King Street from Monday, October 7, throughout the duration of the works, which are expected to be completed by summer 2014.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council says that during this period, local residents will also be able to use alternative large libraries at Shepherds Bush Westfield and High Street Kensington, and add that it it has been able to protect its libraries from closure by combining management and back office overheads with Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster councils.
The refurbishment of Hammersmith Library will see the council take the best elements of the 1905 Grade II listed building and combine it with the modern feel of Shepherd's Bush Library, which has proved highly popular since opening in September 2009.
Improvements to Hammersmith Library will include:
- New books
- Self-service terminals installed to reduce queues and customer waiting
- Wi-Fi installed
- A library that is more attractive and welcoming
- New shelving, shelf guiding and furniture on the ground floor including comfortable seating areas
- Improved access for disabled people
The borough’s archives and local studies collection are currently housed at the Lila Huset on Talgarth Road, for which the lease expires in 2016. The council intends that the archives will be housed at the refurbished Hammersmith Library, with greatly increased public access.
The council is ploughing £340,000 into the scheme, with the remainder funded through Section 106 agreements with the developer of the 10 Hammersmith Grove on the Hammersmith Grove NCP site, Development Securities and St George, the developer of Sovereign Court, on the Kings Mall car park site.
September 6, 2013
