Two Borough Libraries to Close for Over Four Months
Event spaces to be added in Northolt, Southall and Acton
Northolt Library on Church Road. Picture: Ealing Council
October 16, 2024
Ealing Council has announced that two borough libraries are to close for over four months to allow new spaces for community and cultural events and events to be added.
Acton Town Hall and Northolt libraries will be shut from Monday 4 November until March 2025. A cabin will be put up beside Northolt Library, in Church Road, and staff will be on hand to help visitors. Library users will be directed to use the library at Northolt Leisure centre or one of the borough’s other libraries. A temporary library will be provided on the ground floor of the building in Acton. Library users will be able to borrow and return from a selection of the most popular books at the temporary libraries.
Improvements will also be made to the foyer in the Dominion Centre, Southall in The Green. As well as creating more space available for hire for community use, a new meeting room and kitchenette is being added to Southall library. The council has not given any indication of a planned closure at this facility.
The closures are part of a £900,000 investment to increase the space at the libraries for community and social events. This has been enabled by funding provided by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The council says that after the changes, the libraries will continue to offer the same services including book lending study space, online access and activities such as story time for children, but their layouts will change to make them more flexible and able to also offer spaces available for hire.
Changes include mobile bookshelves replacing traditional fixed shelves so that they can be moved around to create space for cultural events, performances, meetings and community groups.
Technology will also be upgraded at the libraries. Visitors will still be able to use the libraries’ computers and tablets or bring their own devices and use extra digital plug-in points being installed.
Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, said, “We want to continue supporting our libraries to be vibrant and inviting places for the community, which is why we’re making this significant investment in them.
“Books will always be at the heart of our libraries but by making the spaces more flexible they can provide so much more, from entertainment, drama performances on a stage in the library to community meetings or celebrations.
Customers will still have access to the 24/7 online resources, be able to order books online, and collect books from other libraries in the borough.
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