A WEST End library which is more than 90 years old has reopened its doors today after a massive £1.5 million investment.
Partick Library is operating again to meet the demands of the busy community it serves who visit more than 2500 times and request at least 1500 books per week.
The library closed its doors last December for the makeover after serving the community for almost 95 years.
The iconic building, which sits on Dumbarton Road, has been given a new lease of life as part of Glasgow City Council’s Community Asset Fund investment. The fund of £10 million has been poured into community buildings across the city, with some additional funding from the Community Revenue Fund.
Glasgow Life says the 12-month makeover has revitalized the library creating new communal mezzanine and study spaces as well as an IT training suite for the local community.
The bright children’s area also now boasts Glasgow Libraries’ first sensory nook, which provides a special multisensory reading space for young people with additional needs.
Pictures and video by Jamie Simpson
The B-listed library building, which first opened its doors in 1925, has undergone rewiring, re-roofing, window refurbishment, drainage repair works and had a new IT system installed.
Andrew Olney, Head of Communities and Libraries at Glasgow Life, said: “Partick Library is one of our busiest, most loved community venues, having served the people of Glasgow for almost 95 years.
“As part of a planned £10 million investment into improving libraries and community facilities citywide, this investment by Glasgow City Council has significantly redeveloped Partick Library, allowing us to protect this important B-listed building. Hundreds of residents can now benefit from this fantastic community space in the west end of the city.”
Of almost five million visits made to Glasgow Libraries in the 12 months to December 2018, more than 133,000 were recorded at Partick Library.
Glasgow Life hopes the new-look library will encourage even more members of the community to explore what’s on offer inside.
Alongside around 33,000 titles, free Wi-Fi and PC access, the new-look community library will also welcome local schools and put on a range of adult and digital learning classes.
Groups and classes like knitting, book group, creative writing, breastfeeding support and Bookbug will also return to the library.
While activities and advice services led by partners will also relaunch at the library including Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries, Universal Credit, Citizens Advice, Jobs and Business Glasgow and Action on Hearing.
A range of exciting activities is planned during the opening week including a special opening event and a visit from Tartan noir novelist Christopher Brookmyre on the evening of Tuesday, December 3.
For more information, or to find out more about what’s on in Partick Library, please visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here