A special festive reopening will be held at Orpington Library on Thursday 18 December following its refurbishment, with residents invited to join for the occasion.
Orpington is the eighth library to reopen across the borough following refurbishment, with new flooring, an upgraded lighting system, refurbished lift and fresh new furnishings amongst the improvements. A colourful mural from artist Alice Pattullo has also been provided in the children’s library area to help ensure an engaging and welcoming environment, with a new teen library area having also been created.
A visit from Father Christmas will be included amongst the festive entertainment, with the Mayor of Bromley cutting the ribbon to officially reopen the library at 11am on 18 December. Complimentary refreshments will then be available with activities provided, including a children’s book reading from author Laura Mucha, further afterschool Christmas story readings, and a teen event run by Nathanael Lessore.
Visitors will immediately notice the difference at Orpington Library, with the prominent external brise soleil, the panels above the entrance designed to reduce sun glare, having been refreshed as part of the wider £11m repair programme to refurbish libraries across the borough.
A new therapeutic hub will also open on the second floor of the library, where three council services, Encompass, THRIVE, and Bromley Virtual School, will co-locate to provide connected fostering, therapeutic and education support to the borough’s children and families. The teams will be available at the reopening to explain more about the important, specialist support that they provide.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “This will be the sixth library this year alone that we have been able to reopen after refurbishment, which I am sure Orpington residents are eager to come and explore. We have been completing these essential works to secure our library network for the future, recognising the important role that libraries play in so many residents’ lives, which is why I am delighted we have been able to deliver these works for Orpington in time for Christmas.”
The library will be run by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the charitable social enterprise who operate all Bromley’s libraries.
Sally Adcock, GLL's Partnership Manager for Bromley Libraries and Historic Collections, said: "We are excited to welcome the local community back to the refurbished library to enjoy the wide choice of books and activities for all ages".
Works at Orpington Library were delivered by the council’s partner contractor Longley Group, with consultants Ingleton Wood.
For more information on the library repair programme visit www.bromley.gov.uk/LibraryRepairProgramme.
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For media enquiries, please contact James George, Public Affairs, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk.