New Boyn Grove library - what the public wants to see included

The services offered by the proposed new library at Boyn Grove, Maidenhead - and its opening times - will be guided by what local people tell the Royal Borough in a community consultation now underway.

The library - the 13th in the borough - bucks the national trend of library closures and will be built as part of the recently-opened Boyn Grove Community Resource Centre and included in the consultation is a proposal to add a new sensory room for centre users.

Centre users are an important part of the consultation and they have already been involved in discussions to find out how they would like to use the library and what they would like to see in it.

Cllr Simon Dudley, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, said: "The Boyn Grove library will be a valuable and convenient resource for all of the north-west Maidenhead community but one of its key features will be catering for the needs of the people with learning difficulties who use the adjacent resource centre.

"Not only will they benefit from the wealth of learning and leisure opportunities the library will offer but they will also help to staff the library as we develop their work and training experiences. That's why it is so important to get their views about how the library will shape up as part of the community-wide consultation - and we are also seeking views about adding a new sensory room to the centre to widen the scope of facilities it offers to its users."

The consultation aims to find out what services people want to see in the new library - from books, CDs, DVDs and magazines to computer training, events and children's activities. The survey questions cover patterns of library use in the area and, importantly, the most popular opening times.

Consultation forms are being delivered to households close to the site in the Boyn Hill, Belmont and Pinkneys Green wards and the closing date for responses is Sunday 23 October 2011. The views of Boyn Grove service users are being sought through the use of a graphic 'story board' featuring colourful library pictures and images. The council is also asking for the views of the Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Cllr Dudley said: "We believe the new library should be an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. It's important to get the widest range of views at this early stage so we can create a library that is part of the fabric of the community it serves. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation."

While other local authorities are closing libraries, the Royal Borough is responding to residents' wishes and opening new ones, including the expansion of the school/community library on the Smiths Lane site in Windsor. It is also opening libraries for longer and providing a wider range of services, thanks to the enthusiasm of the growing band of library volunteers.

Views from across the community about the proposed Boyn Grove library are also welcome via the online consultation form which can be found on the libraries page of the council's website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries.htm

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