The newly refurbished Beckenham Library will reopen on Wednesday 5 February, with residents invited to join festivities to mark the occasion, between 11am and 1pm.
Works at Beckenham have created a new customer toilet with baby changing facilities, new windows and improved electrics throughout the library and have reinstated the original art deco entrance, to allow for a warm welcome to visitors from 5 February. Additional study space is also being provided as the library reopens, with a dedicated section for students, plus an expanded children’s library, and new bookable room for local use.
Visitors at the reopening event will be able to enjoy children’s crafts, family activities and further entertainment, with complimentary light refreshments also being served.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said:
“This is another boost to our thriving library network and I encourage local residents to come and see the exciting new facilities available in Beckenham.
“The financial context across local government makes it increasingly challenging to find the funds needed to invest in our libraries, especially given Bromley’s low levels of government funding. But through careful planning we have been able to prioritise these works to our much-loved library network, which also helps minimise the maintenance costs we would face in the future.”
Beckenham will be the third library refurbishment recently completed in the borough, following St Paul’s Cray and Southborough libraries, with further works already underway at Burnt Ash and Chislehurst libraries.
Works at Beckenham library also saw improvements to the overall accessibility and sustainability of the library building, including the replacement of all windows, a full electrical rewiring, full redecoration and repairs to the roof. The library will be officially reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor David Jeffreys and the Baroness of Beckenham, Floella Benjamin.
Care has also been taken to preserve the heritage features of Beckenham Library, with the restoration of the original parquet flooring in the study room, retention of period features such as the doors, and the removal of the external canopy to highlight the original entrance with art deco features.
Over £11m is being invested to modernise libraries across the borough through repair works and replacement of fixtures and fittings that have reached the end of their useful life. This is in addition to the major regeneration of West Wickham Library, which is already underway, and plans to relocate and improve Bromley Central Library.
For more information on the full repair programme, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/LibraryRepairProgramme.
