Swindon’s £10m Central Library has been officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
Since its opening to the public in October 2008 the number of library visitors has increased by 45% and 3,000 new members have joined.
The brand new building, at the back of the Victorian Town Hall, has won two prestigious environmental awards – one from the Building Research Establishment and the other from the Royal Insitute of Chartered Surveyors.
The building houses more than 77,000 books and 60 free-to-use computers and a café.
Among its green features are solar-powered water heating, natural ventilation and the use of rainwater for toilet flushing and plant watering.
Opening hours have also improved with late-night weekday opening until 10pm and, for the first time, a four-hour opening on Sundays.
During her visit The Princess Royal was shown the automated library issuing and returns system and met local history librarian Roger Trayhurn, who has worked for Swindon library service for 44 years.
May 2009