New Dawley library to open in September
Telford & Wrekin Council is poised to open a brand new bright and welcoming library in September – the second of three opening in the borough in the space of just three years.
Hot on the heels of the new library at Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre – which opened last year - will be the new library in Dawley that will form part of the £16m Phoenix Academy complex.
This will replace the existing Dawley Library, which closes permanently in late August.
And next year yet another new library will open in the Southwater One community building in Telford town centre.
This represents an unprecedented investment in the facilities provided by the Telford and Wrekin Library Service.
There will also be significant investment in Madeley Library, which will close temporarily for several weeks from mid September to late October to allow that work to take place.
At the new Dawley Library, customers will be able to use computers, access the internet, borrow and request books, get information and advice on what else is happening across Telford & Wrekin libraries and all for free
Councillor Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for Libraries, said: “When Bruce Grocott opened the new Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre last year, he said he was probably the only person in public life in the UK who was opening a new library at the moment.
“Well, we aren’t stopping there. Here in Telford and Wrekin, there will be two new libraries opened in the space of eight months to add to the one at Wellington and we will also be significantly upgrading the library at Madeley as well.
“The new Phoenix Academy opens to staff, pupils and the community in September and part of the many fantastic facilities that people can use will be the new library, replacing the current one in Dawley.
“And next year, we will be opening a third brand new library in Telford town centre. This will be sited in the Southwater One community building as part of the £250m regeneration of the town centre that will give Telford a vibrant, beating heart.
“These are very exciting developments and represent an unprecedented investment in our library facilities. Libraries in 2013 are very much centres of information rather than just being places that lend books and I can’t wait to see all the new facilities open.”
