Kendal Library redesign | Westmorland and Furness Council

Kendal Library redesign works are now complete!

The works have modified the layout of the library, with new seating areas and new signage to improve browsing experience. As well as enhancing the layout the project also delivered the following changes:

Modernised Adult Learning facilities
New pram park
Additional worktop space, digital microfilm readers and digital touch screen in the local studies area
More USB/USBC points throughout
Digital display screens
New interior lighting

The Kendal Library team are organising a celebration event which will take place on Saturday 16 September 11am to 2pm. All the community are invited to this free event which will showcase the wonderful redesign works and include a range of interactive activities and family fun.

You said - We did

Below we've displayed your suggestions gathered from the 2021 public consultation, alongside our responses. Find out how your feedback has influenced our decision making on the building and service delivery plans:

You said	We did
I'd like the library to provide learning resources in addition to computers, like iPads and Kindles.	iPads and Kindles won't be part of the digital offer straight away but may be used at some point in the future.
There should be some digital tech in the Local Study area.	You can now access digital microfilm readers and a digital touch screen in the Local Study area
I think it would be helpful to have a visual rolling digital display for events, library information and resources etc.	Great suggestion, we now have a rolling digital display.
There should be scanning facilities available.	Great suggestion, scanning facilities will be available soon.
Books could be available to download through a QR code.	Great suggestion. Books are now available to download through QR codes which provide access to e-books through Borrowbox and Libby.
Children's learning computer software should be available on the computers at the library.	Great suggestion. There are PC's in the children's area and we're currently reviewing the software package for them.
I'd like to be able to renew my books online.	You can do this already - go to www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives to find out more.
I'd like the library to hold author talks.	Kendal Library already holds author talks. Details of up and coming events are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/westmorland-and-furness-libraries-2162249.
I think the library building would be a great place to hold music events.	Kendal Library does host music events. Details of up and coming events are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/westmorland-and-furness-libraries-2162249
I'd like the books available from the library to be kept more up to date.	We have undertaken a stock-check to make sure our collection is up to date, and we'll continue to keep an eye on this.
The bookshelves could be moveable to create space for other things at different times.	All of the bookshelves, bar the wall mounted ones, are moveable.
I'd like to see the library provide daily newspapers for browsing.	I'm afraid the cost for this would be too high.
I think staff should be available by the PC area so that if someone if having computer trouble there's always someone to help out.	Our library staff are available to help anyone who is having computer troubles, and they will continue to do so.
You should be able to pick up bus timetables from the library.	There are already some bus timetables available from the library, and a member of staff would be happy to show you where you can find all of Westmorland and Furness Council's bus timetables at legacy.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/buses.
I think the library should be open during evening hours a day or two a week.	Great suggestion. We're now open until 7pm every Wednesday.
There should be an out of hours drop box for books so that you can return your book anytime.	Great suggestion, but unfortunately none of the library doors are appropriate to attach a drop box to.
I'd like to see more rooms for adult learning.	The Pennington Room is a dedicated adult learning space.
I'm concerned that shelving space for books will be lost.	There has been a small reduction in shelving space. This has helped us improve the layout of stock and ensure that the library space can be used more flexibly for community activities
I'm concerned that there seem to be fewer PCs available.	The number of public PCs available in the library remains the same.
Could there be a disabled access toilet on the ground floor?	We looked into this, but because the library is a Listed Building it was not possible. There is a fully accessible toilet and lift on the first floor.
Could all fiction books be on one floor?	Great suggestion. All the fiction books are now on the ground floor.
Could there be more windows in the Local Studies area?	No additional windows can be added on the first floor due to the building design. We have used interior lighting to better mimic daylight.
I think it would be great if you could collaborate with a local café.	The café area includes a new vending machine with hot and cold drinks.
I'd like more comfortable seating.	We now have more comfortable seating in the library.
I think a "quiet zone" would be helpful.	There is a quiet zone on the first floor.
A dedicated area for newly published books would be great.	Yes, we've done that.
Could there be a pram store?	Great idea, there is now a pram store on the ground floor.
Could we get a bike store?	We have kept the existing spaces for bikes at the front of the building.
More worktop tables in the Local Studies area (for maps) would be useful.	We have added an additional worktop table to the local studies area.
More plugs/sockets/charging point would be useful.	We have maximised the number of sockets available to use, but there are restrictions given the building's Listed status. The recessed seating along perimeter walls has power sockets and USB/USBC points built in. Children's library recessed seating has USB/USBC points only.
I would like a gate into the children's library to help stop my little ones straying into the main library.	We considered this but we ruled it out because of complications due to the building's Listed status.