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Newcastle library plays a part in city regeneration

The new public library is like a beacon in Newcastle's city centre - particularly in comparison to the previous library’s dark 1960’s concrete building. The new building now combines a library service with a range of other facilities to create an important community space which is a significant part of wider regeneration projects taking place across Newcastle.

The design brief required the new library building to be more visible and noticeable within the city centre, and to be better integrated and connected to the surrounding public spaces; transparent to make its function clear; easy to self-orientate; and above all, to delight and inspire.

The design of the library has successfully met the original brief, creating a high-profile entrance and bold signage to make the building visible from all aspects; providing light and transparency through large glass facades; creating an open-plan building; and the building features high-quality design, furniture and furnishings to make it welcoming as well as inspirational.

Apart from development costs and a £1 million capital contribution, both paid for by Newcastle City Council, all the funding was raised by the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) consortium. The project, together with the second library at High Heaton, cost a total of £40.2 million. The build cost for Newcastle City Library came to £24 million, and High Heaton cost £1 million. The remaining £15.2 million covers external project development costs, and the 25 year lifecycle costs for the building.

The library building embraces sustainable design, achieving a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method – an internationally recognised assessment technique) Very Good rating, and uses materials that allow natural heating and cooling of the building throughout the day. The building also reuses rainwater, features low-energy lighting and makes use of solar panel energy to heat water.

Accessible and available

The new library is now 100% self-service, with staff on hand to assist where necessary, and the library now makes all books and documents accessible and available, removing a large number of books from storage and putting them on display on over 12km of shelving throughout the building.

There are also nine download stations – consoles which have facilities to sample CDs and DVDs, and download music, as well as providing access to Newcastle Libraries’ online catalogue.

Within their new working space, staff are now encouraged to walk the library floor more, interacting with visitors and assisting with their information requirements beyond the formality of a desk created barrier. Thorough consultation with staff about a fundamental shift in their ways of working was of great importance in making this model of customer interaction work for all.

In addition to extended opening hours, designed to meet the needs of a modern society, a self service vending machine providing a range of books and DVDs is also operational for 24 hours a day from an external area.

Councillor Pauline Allen, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services, Newcastle City Council said, “The city now has an amazing city library, popular branch libraries and excellent staff and this combination means that Newcastle has much to be proud of. We value our library service, perhaps even more so in difficult times because this is when people really need help, advice and in my view, a good book.”.

The building has also been enthusiastically received by the public, other stakeholders and the local media. The City Library has also just been awarded three of the Public Library Building Awards 2009. Competing libraries possess a range of shared services and innovative use of technology, and Newcastle Library won in the categories: Innovation; Accessibility; and Delegates’ Choice Award.

The new City Library opened for the first time on a Sunday, demonstrating the importance of weekend opening and family friendly hours. Between 7 June and 31 October there were 528,000 visits to the library and 263,000 loans of books, CDs and DVDs.

For more information please visit the case study section on MLA research website.

November 2009