Topic ID 6363
I noticed last night that it opened after Christmas so surprised that no-one has mentioned it yet? Is it any good? I had a squint through the window and it doesn't look very big - I presume it extends onto other floors? [edit] Oh - and it feels a bit weird accessing it off Maidenhead Street - sort of 'back alley'~ish.. :-)
Reply ID 85496
It only opened this morning, which is probably why it's not been mentioned. http://www.hertford.net/blog/default.asp?id=1057
Reply ID 85498
wow 10 years eh, blimey. will pop in on Saturday!
Reply ID 85501
quote:Ahh that'd be it!
Originally posted by Steve
It only opened this morning, which is probably why it's not been mentioned. http://www.hertford.net/blog/default.asp?id=1057
Reply ID 85504
Sadly there is only the one floor! However that is a good thing for access issues. I wish them well, just a shame they are not open enough during the day.]
quote:
Originally posted by Ted Badger
I noticed last night that it opened after Christmas so surprised that no-one has mentioned it yet? Is it any good? I had a squint through the window and it doesn't look very big - I presume it extends onto other floors? [edit] Oh - and it feels a bit weird accessing it off Maidenhead Street - sort of 'back alley'~ish.. :-)
Reply ID 85505
Folks.. IMHO, the town has been sold rather short. Disappointing and sad to say the least. - Clinical - Cramped (extreme lack of thinking/breathing/private space) - Low ceiling - Single floor - Grey (figuratively and physically) In summary; about as far removed from the old library as one might imagine. It felt soulless and utterly uninspiring. It appears to have been a council/business decision that has left the town with an afterthought of a library stuck on to the bottom of some new flats. A great example of how not to get people reading.
Reply ID 85508
DQ's 79 year old mum just got back from library (to take back books and get some more!) She loved it! Admittedly she is using a stick to get around, she says to me she found the areas clear, easy to get around, easy to find your books, she loved it! She doesn't think we've been sold short. However, my mum doesn't need convincing of the value of reading, she's motivated to do so. As for the reduced hours, as she sadly quite rightly states, the opening hours due to council cutbacks has been going on for a few months now so nothing new there! I have yet to go in, but will try and find time during next week...
Reply ID 85522
I paid a quick visit there this evening. My initial thoughts were that it seemed a small area without private sections, and without the charm of the old building. I appreciate that the old building must have been expensive to maintain and the new building is modern and functional, but feel that the town has lost a bit of character. I also wonder about the financial position overall - maintenance costs are presumably much lower, but does anybody have any idea of the land and construction costs (including legal & professional)and how they compare with the sale of the old building, which I imagine has yet to be determined?
Reply ID 85525
blacklab - a lot of those costs were born by mcmullens who paid for the new library primarily as part of a deal to allow them to sell the site to sainsburys. Something like that - Steve will provide details im sure.
Reply ID 85527
quote:There is no connection between the library and Sainsbury's. The original plans for the library and flats were first proposed in 1999, with planning approval granted in 2001. The downsizing of the brewery and sale of land to Sainsbury's came about after a split in the controlling family and shareholders in the mid-2000s. Useful link: http://www.hertford.net/issues/yards010412.htm
Originally posted by codek2
blacklab - a lot of those costs were born by mcmullens who paid for the new library primarily as part of a deal to allow them to sell the site to sainsburys. Something like that - Steve will provide details im sure.
Reply ID 85528
so the new library was entirely paid out of their own budget? blimey. no wonder they have to cut opening hours!!
Reply ID 85536
quote:No, the library was paid for by McMullens
Originally posted by codek2
so the new library was entirely paid out of their own budget? blimey. no wonder they have to cut opening hours!!
Reply ID 85540
I notice that the old one is now "under offer"
Reply ID 85541
quote:Keep an eye on the blog [;)]
Originally posted by Arty
I notice that the old one is now "under offer"
Reply ID 85543
quote:But not "officially" in any way connected with the sale of the site? They just totally randomly offered to pay for it? Why?
No, the library was paid for by McMullens
Reply ID 85544
quote:I believe it formed part of the Section 106 agreement related to the development. McMullens retain the freehold and lease it back to HCC on a peppercorn rent.
Originally posted by codek2quote:But not "officially" in any way connected with the sale of the site? They just totally randomly offered to pay for it? Why?
No, the library was paid for by McMullens
Reply ID 85547
quote:I noticed a planning application in yesterday's Mercury for it to go to office use, I assume not unconnected?
Originally posted by Stevequote:Keep an eye on the blog [;)]
Originally posted by Arty
I notice that the old one is now "under offer"
Reply ID 85566
Popped in there this afternoon. Pretty disappointed to be honest. The reference area of old, where you could read papers and magazines has been shrunk to one low table, and there is little research space throughout the library. Plus, they still haven't marked up the contents on most of the shelves, making it impossible to find anything through browsing only. Soulless and rather clinical. Disappointing :-(
Reply ID 85571
Was going to pop in to the new library on friday morning, however it wasn't going to be open until 2pm!!!!!!! In fact the hours are not very good, its open all day monday, thursday and saturday, opens at 2pm tuesday and friday,and is shut completely wednesday!
Reply ID 85572
The hours were changed last year and not a "feature" of the new library.
Reply ID 85599
we dropped in on Saturday, very very busy! I guess everyone having a nosy around! Does seem smaller, but then things are more tightly packed, so probably has the same number of books available I guess? With it being so busy it did feel a bit claustrophobic, however i think that wouldnt be so bad when footfall drops to normal levels. Sure it's soulless - but it's a new building so it would be. Perhaps in a better location being in the middle of town too, so hopefully it'll get used a bit more.
Reply ID 87321
Popped into the library on Monday to join-up. It was quite busy, and I was quite impressed with the selection of books on offer. It is smaller than the previous library, but that didn't bother me. Its very easy to take books out using the new self-service, there is someone nearby in case you needed help. Very impressed also with the fact you can re-new books online, saves having to make a special visit to the library. Would recommend that people pop in and use it. Even if its just to read a newspaper.
Reply ID 87334
not strictly 'on topic' but I discovered only recently that you can download ebooks and audio books from the hertfordshire library site. I suspect that I am the last to know, but just in case there's anyone else who uses these, I though I'd mention it.