Library upgrade wins major award

FELIXSTOWE'S newly-refurbished library has won a national award.

Delegates at the Public Libraries Authorities Conference were shown a DVD called Heart of the Community giving an insight into the £1 million project, nominating it the best from 33 projects in the UK.

Floorspace at the library in Crescent Road has been increased by more than a third by the Suffolk County Council scheme - allowing for the creation of more meeting rooms, a new café and a complete redecoration, and reorganisation of the bookshelves, DVDs, CDs and computers.

The library has 269,000 visitors per year, and those people borrow 250,000 books.

Book clubs, internet access groups for both older people and younger people, and the new Top Time activity groups for older people now taking place regularly in the library have increased its usage and put in at the centre of town life.

Suffolk county councillor Graham Newman, accepting the Delegate's Choice award on behalf of the library, said it was a “well-deserved national recognition” for a superb facility.

“I felt very privileged to be at the public libraries conference to accept the award. Our library looks bright and modern, and it's fit for the 21st century, with modern media and technology making it a welcoming place for young people and everyone else,” he said.

“This award is a tribute not only to my colleagues Ann Rodwell and John Goodwin but to many former councillors, the staff of the library service and numerous other people who persistently campaigned over a period of years to get the library improved.

“I would invite all Felixstowe residents, and the many visitors to the town, to come and have a look at the bigger children's section, a newly-built young people's area, and the new meeting rooms. We now have full disabled access, and an excellent new café staffed by some of the people Suffolk County Council helps to support.”