23 February 2004
People are voting with their feet at the Bromyard Centre with the
new library attracting record numbers of new members.
Open less than a month, the refurbished Centre in Cruxwell Street
has received a resounding thumbs up from people popping in to use
the range of services and facilities all now under the one
roof.
At last count, the new library had already signed-up almost as many
borrowers as the whole of the past two years put together.
Borrowing has also hit record levels. In the first nine days of
opening 3856 books and media were lent - that's more than the old
library issued in the whole of January last year.
Jeremy Alder, Libraries Operations Manager, said:
"The extended opening hours - 84 a week - are proving very popular
and many people have commented how much easier it is to use the
library now that they can come any day of the week.
"The 12 computers offering free broadband Internet access are in
great demand from young people, especially during evenings and at
the weekend."
In other news, the Youth Centre opened last Monday (January 26) and
Drop-in Sessions are Mondays and Tuesdays, from 7p.m. to 9p.m., and
girls-only nights are Wednesdays, from 6p.m. to 9p.m.
Jenny Lockwood, Assistant Community Youth Service Manager,
said: "The transfer of the Youth Centre from Church Street
to the Bromyard Centre affords the Youth Service some marvellous
opportunities to work closely with colleagues in Learning and
Leisure."
Herefordshire Council's £800,000 redevelopment of the
building, opened on January 5, now hosts a brand new library,
Tourist Information, Info in Herefordshire, Leisure Services, Learn
Direct and the Youth Service.