Medway Council has invested £250,000 to transform a library in Wigmore into a community hub.
The new hub, in Fairview Avenue, now has a modern fit-for-purpose library, a larger children’s area and a meeting room.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic the hub is currently only open for face-to-face enquiries, book returns and the council’s new Click & Collect book reservation service.
Residents can also collect reusable recycling bags and will be able to book sessions to use the computers from Monday, 3 August.
To mark the opening of the community hub, bestselling crime author Mark Billingham has recorded a message of support which will be posted on the Medway Libraries social media accounts. Follow Medway Libraries on Twitter and Facebook.
At the heart of our community
Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “Although we are unable to celebrate the opening of Wigmore Community Hub as we would have liked due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it is important that we mark the opening of our seventh community hub.
“Medway’s libraries are at the heart of our communities and they have become hives of activity where residents can access council services, attend a range of clubs and sessions as well as borrow books. We are looking forward to restarting popular sessions in our libraries and community hubs when it is safe to do so and I would encourage residents to use our new Click & Collect service to reserve books online.
“We have a brilliant online library service and more than 71,000 eBooks, eMagazine, eNewspapers and eComics have been borrowed since lockdown on 23 March. We have a growing collection of children’s eBooks and a great selection of children’s books in our libraries, which can be reserved, that will be able to help young people with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and to enjoy during the school summer holidays.
“If you are not already a member of Medway Libraries, I would encourage residents to join online.”
Medway’s libraries and community hubs are now open and offer face to face services for council and library enquiries. Customers will not be able to browse books but they can reserve and pick up books using the new click and collect service as well as return library books. Daily parking vouchers can be purchased by contacting the Parking Services Team on 01634 332266.
Opening times for libraries and community hubs have been revised during the pandemic so residents are encouraged to check online before visiting their local library.