New era for Bovey Tracey Library as it moves to Riverside Community Centre
Posted on 20 Oct 2020
An exciting new era for Bovey Tracey Library begins next month, when it will be moved to a brand new building, allowing it to provide a more enhanced service for the local community.
The library will close at 4pm on Thursday 29th October and reopen on Thursday 12th November 2020.
The facility will be moved to the new Riverside Community Centre which has been built on the site of the Old Thatched Inn in Station Road. The state of the art new centre will also house the Bovey Tracey Town Council offices, meeting and events spaces, public toilets, Incubation Offices and the Information Centre.
Amongst the new facilities in the library will be a self-service machine which will enable customers to check out books themselves. It will be newly furnished, with plenty of extra space for visitors and staff.
During the two week closure, customers are being encouraged to use the libraries at Chudleigh, Ashburton or Newton Abbot, and renew and reserve books and browse the catalogue at devonlibraries.org.uk. Existing loan periods for books have been extended to cover the closure and return dates will be after the library reopens.
Libraries Unlimited Chief Executive Alex Kittow said: “This fresh library space will be a fantastic asset for Bovey Tracey and we are delighted to be a part of this ambitious project in partnership with Bovey Tracey Town Council. It will be a more open, versatile space which will include a shared workroom giving us greater flexibility. The building is beautifully designed by Peregrine Architects, with a light, spacious and welcoming feel which we hope will please our regular library users and encourage new people to benefit from the books, online services, events and groups that we offer. We’ve kept the closure period as short as we can, and we are sure people will think it was worth the short wait once they see their new library.”
Mark Wells, Town Clerk from Bovey Tracey Town Council said: “It’s exciting to see the services accommodated within the new centre firming up their plans to relocate and enhancing their services, which the current premises may have restricted. We look forward to seeing the centre thrive with all the new facilities and services that are going to be on offer.”
The Town Council has delivered the build within budget and secured a number of grants and contributions towards the capital cost of the build, which includes a significant contribution from Devon County Council. Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities said: “We are pleased to be able to help provide this impressive modern facility. It is more than just a library, it’s an important community hub and for some the only way to access vital online services.
“It has been a long and productive journey; we first started talking about the move some 10 years ago and I’m very pleased that the library move has now come to fruition.
“Once the pandemic is over facilities like this will play a key role in helping members of the community reconnect with one another, through learning opportunities, community events and support groups.”
Bovey Tracey Library is managed by Libraries Unlimited, the charity responsible for running Devon and Torbay Libraries.