A temporary library service has opened today (Wednesday) in place of the closed Roose Library in Barrow.
Roose Library had to be closed due to fire damage caused following a suspected arson attack.
Since the library building’s closure, Westmorland and Furness Council has been considering a number of options for a temporary library in place of the closed Roose Library, while it engages with the community on a long-term, permanent library offer.
The temporary library options have included looking at alternative sites and premises and holding discussions with operators of community facilities in Roose about sharing space in their buildings.
The discussions with community organisations are ongoing, including talks around lease arrangements and any necessary compliance works, and these opportunities with community organisations in Roose are still being explored.
In order to re-establish library services in this area of Barrow in the meantime, Roose Temporary Library @ Barrow Park will be opening its doors at the ATP building next to Barrow Park Leisure Centre on Wednesday, 15 January.
Using the ATP for the temporary facility means the library can be opened for the full 35 hours each week that the Roose Library building was open, including on a Saturday morning.
The building is close to other community facilities and amenities, including the leisure centre, park, schools and shopping and is on a bus route and has ample parking, making it accessible to visitors.
The building offers a bright, warm and welcoming space with soft seating, a range of book stock including a small children’s area, access to IT facilities including wifi, laptops and printers, and it will be able to offer a range of activities for all ages, including Read, Rhyme and Play, Storycraft, Games Club and the Ancestry Group.
Library staff will be available to support with IT help and other enquiries and it is intended to continue building the range of activities according to customer feedback.
A council spokesperson said: “We have been working hard to ensure that any temporary library provision would work as well as possible for our communities and library users and we have been looking for solutions that can sit alongside and complement existing community facilities and amenities.
“We recognise the importance of providing accessible library services and we are continuing our discussions with other community providers about working with them to further extend the temporary replacement library services in Roose.
“However, once the nearby ATP building became available late last year - after refurbishment work following the council taking over management of the site from the previous operator - it provided an option to re-establish some of the Roose Library services that had been lost following the fire.
“Roose Temporary Library @ Barrow Park is around a 10-15 minute level walk from the current Roose Library building and is on a bus route. Being so close to the leisure centre, Barrow Park, schools and shops, we’re hoping it will also be convenient to combine a visit to the library with other trips and activities.
“With regard to the insurance situation with the Roose library building, the insurers have requested clarity around the long-term options and location of the service before being able to conclude the claim.
“We intend to work with the local community as we develop long-term, permanent options and to ensure we understand what they want from their library service.
“We will be engaging with the community as we develop these permanent options over the coming weeks and months and once a long-term proposal has been established, a final insurance settlement will be agreed.
“We recognise this has taken time, but the opening of Roose Temporary Library @ Barrow Park is a positive step and we thank library users for their understanding and patience during this period.’’