PORTHCAWL Library has been officially reopened by the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, Councillor Ken Watts, following its recent refurbishment.
A grant from the Local Government Cultural Service Fund (Welsh Government Culture and Sport Division) was used to reconfigure and redecorate the front half of the library, to increase the size of the children’s library and move the public computers to a space with more privacy and closer to the printing facilities.
The front desk has been moved, so that it no longer causes a bottle neck at the entrance, and there is a new seating area, which will provide a welcome space for groups to meet again, once the current Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.
Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, the registered charity which manages the library services across Bridgend on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council, said:
“Porthcawl Library is one of our busiest libraries for traditional book borrowing but its former layout meant that access was severely limited, especially when observing the necessary social distancing measures to keep staff and customers safe.
“We are grateful to the Welsh Government for their funding, and to the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough for officially reopening the library today. We look forward to welcoming our customers back and hope everyone enjoys using this community space once again.”
Mayor Cllr Ken Watts said: “Porthcawl Library remains at the heart of the local community. With coronavirus rates continuing to fall and lockdown restrictions easing, I am sure that people will welcome its availability as it once more opens its doors.
“For a long time now, local libraries have been about far more than simply lending books, and it is great to see how the new layout and refurbished facilities are going to enhance the many services that Porthcawl Library offers to the people of Porthcawl.”
Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: “Porthcawl Library is one of the most popular and well-used libraries in Bridgend County Borough, and I would like to thank Awen and the Welsh Government for enabling these improvements to go ahead.”
