Walton Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UU
Many of you will know that Aylesbury’s library has been undergoing a MASSIVE refurbishment well, today it reopened and it’s awesome.
We love reading in our house and Biggest child can only be described as a prolific reader. Even smallest child demands a story at least once a day! We can only buy and store so many books in our house so a trip to the library is a regular event.
The main (I’m loathed to say Adult part because that sounds a bit dodgy) part of the library has been completely redesigned and there are comfy chairs dotted around you can read on. There are no longer two large information desks, just two smaller ones, so there’s a lot more room. They’ve separated the computers into a different room (I imagine so it’s a bit quieter for people wanting to study) and there are new loos. It’s the children’s bit that has had the most radical re-design though;
The children now have a nice cosy corner with lots of cushions and stools to sit on. There are two tubes which I assume will be bubble tubes when they’re switched on. Plus there’s the padded light tunnel which I’m fairly sure a small kid could curl up in to read.
I believe that there is now a bigger selection than there used to be, but there has certainly been a massive investment in new books because there are so many of them. Most of the board books seemed to be new, but I guess they get pretty battered. All in, this is a brilliant space that encourages kids to take their time and settle down rather than just grabbing a book and going.
They have also changed how you check your books out. Firstly you go to the funky machines, scan your card, enter your pin and then just put the books on the shelf. The machine then automatically knows what books you have in your pile and off you go! Genius! Don’t worry, if you don’t know your pin or if you’re struggling then there is a smaller help kiosk right next to the machines and the staff will be more than happy to help.
I didn’t think that I would get so enthusiastic about a library but I really do think they’re such an important resource and, at a time when many libraries are closing, this refurb has done wonders!
Entry – Free. If you’re not already a member then you can join on the day
Parking – use the town centre car parks
Toilets – Yes
Food – None allowed in the library
Rating – 5 / 5
www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/libraries/find-a-library/aylesbury/