New Libraries for Tameside: Update Spring 2008

The New Libraries for Tameside report 121.39 KB has been approved by the Council. In line with the report recommendations the following actions have taken place so far:

• The Home Library service has been extended and routes revised to enable this service to reach customers who were adversely affected by the withdrawal of the Mobile Service and the closure of Waterloo and Audenshaw Libraries.
• We now have a Library Access Point at Ryecroft Hall, Audenshaw providing books and computers 
• We have Book Access Points at Hollingworth and Broadbottom Post Offices
• A review of Library opening hours has been completed with users and non-users of the service. As a result our 5 main libraries are open until 8.00pm three nights a week and Hyde Library is now open 6 days a week.
• Major library refurbishments have been been completed at Stalybridge and Denton, with alterations to the counters at Dukinfield Library and the Central Library in Ashton. We have also added 10 extra PCs into the Computer Learning Centre at Central Library
• Extra money was allocated to the materials fund.
• Hyde Library has been completely modernised and refurbished funded entirely by the Council. While not directly funded from the New Libraries Strategy Hyde was referred to in the report and a capital bid was sought and achieved.
• Work is due to start on a new heating system at Haughton Green Library followed by some refurbishments in the children’s library
• Refurbishment work in the computer suite at Droylsden is also planned for 2008 - 2009.
• The decision over the future site of Mossley Library is still being discussed and options investigated