The ground floor Wembley Library at the Brent Civic Centre is closed at present as the redesign of the Civic Centre goes ahead. The library will eventually me on the mezzanine floor but will be temporarily housed on the first floor for several months.
I opened the door on to a huge hubbub when I visited today. The small room is shared with the Civic Centre Hub, also moved from downstairs. There were crowds of people waiting to be seen by Brent staff and use the computer terminals for advice and support. Not a room where anyone could study.
The are no terminals for returning or borrowing books, just one customer counter. There is a much diminished range of book available for borrowing.
Staff are doing their best but I would recommend library users go to Ealing Road Library or Willesden Green Library for Brent library books. Alternatively to borrow books, use IT or study in a peaceful environment Preston Community Library is available on Wednesday's (3.30pm-5.30pm) and Saturday (11am-3pm).
So much for Brent Council caring about residents - why close the library whilst our young people are studying for important exams?
ReplyDeleteUsual Brent incompetence. The work and the £2 million + spend is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers money.
ReplyDeleteEven if really needed it was planned to be done much earlier - but in the usual poor planning by Labour Councillors in charge badly organised and executed.
When the Neasden Library was modernised it was argued that the money had to be spent to bring the library from the 1st to the ground floor. If this was done it would attract more visitors. Brent spent a lot of money on Neasden Library only to for Labour Councillors (once again) to close it.
If ground floors are better to attract visitors to our libraries - why is the Library in the Civic Centre being moved to the 1st floor?
Is the £2 million to be spent on this a priority or value for money? - of course not. It is another pointless (and expensive) vanity project from our esteemed Council Leader.
"why is the Library in the Civic Centre being moved to the 1st floor" - probably so they can rent out the current library as a retail unit or a bar/restaurant???
ReplyDeleteHow much did they spend on the civic centre and why do they want to spend more
ReplyDeleteThey spent £90m on the new Civic ente and reckoned it would save in 2m a year from having multiple Buildings. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jun/03/brent-council-civic-centre-opens
ReplyDeleteThe refurb is to change the layout of the ground floor with the present library entrance next to Sainsbury's as the new main entrance.