Mowbray Gardens Library given grant of over £1m!

The Big Lottery Fund is helping to prove what the thousands of people who use Mowbray Gardens Library each year already know, it’s worth a million!

Over a million in fact, the Big Lottery Fund, which was created to direct the money from the National Lottery to worthy causes, has given Mowbray Gardens Library a grant of over £1,170,000 towards making it a hub for, and designed by, the local community. The project, which has been given the title, “Our library, our space, our community”, will run over three years. The first phase of the project will be led by Manager, Community Engagement, Laura Bell.

Laura, who will be actively involving the local community to incorporate their ideas into the new library facilities, said: “I’ll be out there working with people in the community making sure everyone gets their say. This is an amazing opportunity for the people of Rotherham to create a tailor-made library on their doorstep."

Designing a new library that will suit everyone raises lots of questions!
We recently asked the Open Minds Theatre Company to find out what questions you had about the project at Mowbray Gardens Library. This short film (21 Mb) includes just a few of the things you want to know more about.

Some of the comments so far include:

'the building - is it going to be an eyesore, just a box?'
'will the library be open when the pool closes?'
'are there going to be any more books'
'you could have a better garden area outside'
'if you want to encourage children there has to be onsite toilets'
'more activities for children to get involved in'
'space where you can sit down for a bit'

Hopefully we will be able to answer a lot of these questions as the new building is designed and new library services developed. Your thoughts count, so please contact us if you have any comments about how you would like your new library to be.

Please contact Laura Bell - Community Engagement Manager on 01709 814934 or laura-library.bell@Rotherham.gov.uk or call in and see us!

During this initial period, a newly-appointed “Children’s Champion”, will work with local children and young people, including looked after children, to help them design their own space within the library.

The Children’s Champion, working in partnership with Young People’s and Community Involvement teams, will develop specific areas of the new library with young people in mind, giving local children and young people a voice in deciding on the range and content of services offered.

Children and young people will also be encouraged to take an active role in their new library when the revamp is completed and become “Library Champions” within their local community.

People who currently don’t use library facilities will also be asked for their ideas and opinions, allowing staff to broaden the appeal of the new facilities even further.

Based on the views of local people, the second phase will focus on a total re-modelling of the existing space within the library. Work on the building will begin Autumn 2008. It is hoped that when the work is completed in 2009, the finished library will be an exciting, innovative and inspirational place which meets the needs of the community with the aim being that all local residents to feel that it is truly “their space”.

If you have any ideas or want some more information, please phone Laura Bell on 01709 814934 or 07925 928 590.