Acomb Explore Library set to get £2 million boost
Acomb Explore Library
Papers released by the Council this week suggest that a major upgrade to the Acomb Explore Library will be completed by 2022. £4 million has been set aside for works at the Acomb and Clifton Libraries in the Councils budget.
The news will be welcomed in Acomb. It is 10 years since land was acquired to the rear of the library which was intended to accommodate an extension. The hope was then that the building would become a “one stop shop” for public services. It would have partly replaced the neighbourhood “Acomb Office” which Labour closed in 2013. There was hope that policing and health activities might relocate to the site.
The Council says, that the priority is “for investment in Acomb, to build on the great success of that Explore Centre, and in Clifton to transform the quality of service in that area. Individual business cases will be brought forward during 19/20 demonstrating how the investment will contribute to delivering service transformation and driving the generation of additional income streams”
The announcement comes amid rising tensions over the future of the libraries contract. The Council invited tenders last year for continuation of the service – which is currently provided via a social enterprise organisation.
There has been no official confirmation that the existing provider has been allocated the new contract which is due to start on 1st April 2019.
The Council also last year agreed a planning application which will see houses built on the adjacent bowling green site. Objectors at the time stressed the need for a holistic solution to the redevelopment of all the vacant plots in the area.
New “what’s on” in west York poster published
What’s on in York: Coding session for adults at Acomb Explore Library on Monday
What’s on in York: “Online safety” at Acomb Explore Library on Wednesday
What’s on in York: “Tech Tuesday” at Acomb Explore Library
What’s on in York: Poetry Circle at Acomb Explore Library tomorrow (Thursday)
What’s on in York: Sad Poets’ Doorstep Club
Acomb Explore Library :
Thu 10 Jan :
5.30pm – 6.30pm :
Free
A poetry circle event with a mental health slant, this is a chance to explore your thoughts and feelings about mental health issues in a safe and supportive environment.
Please bring along a poem or short story that you have written to share with the group. Organised in an Open Mic format you will have the opportunity to read or perform aloud, or simply to listen.
There is a three minute limit for each piece, but there will be multiple rounds of the circle so plenty of opportunities to showcase your work.
Strictly 16+
Contains adult themes
Please visit our ticketing website to book a place.
York Libraries – call for more transparency over future
York Explore Library
Staff working in York’s libraries are understandably concerned about the lack of any announcement about the future of the service.
The libraries are currently run by “Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited” company.
Their contract comes to an end in March 2019.
In June 2018 the Council decided to tender for the continuation of the service.
A report raised several worrying options including the introduction of “volunteer” run branches. Others were concerned that a large leisure management company based outside the City would take over the service.
The contract on offer is believed to be worth £32 million and covers a 15 year period.
Acomb Explore Library
The present management arrangements are essentially a development of the team that led the library organisation when it was run by the Council. They have had a generally successful 5 years with, against the national trend, user numbers stable and some useful innovations like the reading café in Rowntree Park introduced.
An updated report on the Libraries recent activities was published yesterday (it says that they can now handle visa applications – a role that the Post Office revealed, during consultations about the relocation of the Lendal office to W H Smiths, they were losing)
The Councils Forward Plan which lists all major upcoming decisions runs until 28th April 2019.
It does not include a decision item on the future of the library service.
What’s on in York: Surprise Ending: How was it for you?
Acomb Explore Library :
Fri 14 Dec :
2.00pm -3.30pm :
Free
Surprise Ending, our Big City Read play was funded by Arts Council England.
We are inviting anyone who came to see the play to join us for a chat about what you thought of the play and to share any ideas about other initiatives that we could ask the Arts Council to support in libraries in the future.
This is a free session, but please book.
Please visit our ticketing website to book a place.