Residents are invited to explore new facilities at Mottingham Library from Wednesday 26 November as it reopens following refurbishment, as part of Bromley Council’s £11m borough-wide programme.
Alongside essential repairs and upgrades such as a new heating system, LED lighting and an improved library layout, new technology-rich spaces are also being provided in Mottingham Library, which is the seventh library in the borough to reopen following refurbishment. A podcasting studio, coding equipment and craft machines like a 3D printer are amongst the features of this new ‘Transformation Library’ offering. These facilities provide a dynamic range of provisions to support and inspire local library users, following funding successfully secured from Arts Council England.
A new accessible toilet will also be provided at Mottingham Library through the works delivered by partner contractor Longley Group, as well as new flooring, door and window replacement where needed, a refreshed garden with new fencing, and a refurbished roof. An attractive new mural in the children’s library area will help ensure a welcoming environment, with these murals having been praised across the borough’s refurbished libraries, with artist Alice Pattullo creating the designs based on local inspiration.
The reopening event will take place from 11am to 1pm at Mottingham Library on Wednesday 26 November, with the Mayor of Bromley officially reopening the library. Refreshments and activities will be provided, including children’s author activities for preschoolers and the showcasing of new library features. The library will then remain open until the usual 7pm close, with further activities for adults taking place from 5:30pm.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “I encourage residents to come and explore these exciting, new facilities at Mottingham Library and rediscover the magic of libraries in the process. We know how crucial libraries are for a range of reasons and want to make sure a wide offering can be provided to best meet residents’ requirements. The essential maintenance works being delivered across our library network both minimise future maintenance costs for council taxpayers and ensure these important services can continue to be delivered locally into the future.”
Rebecca Gediking Head of GLL Libraries said: “We are grateful to have received £98,280 from the Arts Council England Libraries Improvement Fund, which, alongside the London Borough of Bromley’s investment in the refurbishment of Mottingham Library, has enabled us to create a truly modern and flexible Transformation Library. This combined support has allowed us to reimagine the space so it can continue to grow and adapt to the evolving needs and aspirations of our community.
Mottingham is now the first public library in the UK to offer a Cubbie sensory pod, a smart and intuitive multi-sensory environment designed to provide a calm, supportive space for autistic and neurodivergent residents and for those with sensory or cognitive needs. Together with our new podcasting space, 3D printers and virtual reality headsets, these additions significantly broaden the ways in which residents can learn, create and connect in their local library.
As the highest-issuing borough in London, Bromley already has a strong track record of library use, and these improvements demonstrate our shared commitment to delivering inclusive, innovative and forward-looking services.”
The completion of Mottingham Library’s refurbishment follows Chislehurst Library over the summer, and Burnt Ash, Beckenham, Southborough and St Paul’s Cray libraries before this, in addition to the major works at West Wickham Library. Orpington Library will be the next to reopen before the end of the year.
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For media enquiries, please contact James George, Public Affairs, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk.