New start as Warwick Library opens its doors in Shire Hall

For the past two weeks Warwick has been without a library as the final stages of the move from its former home in Barrack Street got underway.

It has now relocated into the Warwickshire County Council Shire Hall building in Market Place.

Head of customer service Kushal Birla said: “We are excited about our new look, modern library and hope our customers are looking forward to seeing it too.”

The library move is part of a refurbishment programme at the county council’s Shire Hall headquarters, which will see a number of changes to the building to maximise the space available for customer facing services.

In addition to the new library, the refurbishment will also mean the availability of a wider range of registration services.

These services will be located alongside other public services already provided by Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County and Warwick District Councils under the Warwickshire Direct brand, and the Post Office.

The moves mean that there are now even more empty buildingsw within Warwick, with the Barrack Street library and Warwick police station joining the likes of the county council owned Northgate Street, The Butts, and Warwick Fire Station in looking for new owners.

The opening hours of the new library will be the same as other Shire Hall services - from Monday to Thursday is will open at 8am and close at 5.30pm, on Friday it will also open at 8am but close at 5pm, and on Saturday it will open at 9am and close at 4pm.

Cllr Colin Hayfield (Con, Arley), who is responsible for customers, access and physical assets said: “The relocation of Warwick Library presents the opportunity to develop a modern library, serving the needs of existing and new library customers.

“Shire Hall will become a real community hub, enabling customers to head to one place for the information and services they need.”

The news of the new library opening was welcomed on Twitter by the mayor of Warwick Cllr Trudy Offer (Con, Warwick North) who said: “Warwick Library open and lovely. It’s back and has been missed.”