Worcester Library and History Centre

Artist's impression of the main atrium

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View from Croft Road

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Aerial view of the site 19/02/09

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Worcester Library and History Centre

The creation of a new multi-million pound Library and History Centre in Worcester has began in earnest, with the contracts for the project signed, financial close reached and the building work started. Construction on the site commenced on Monday 1st February 2010, and Worcester Library and History Centre will open to the public in 2012.

Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor of the University of Worcester, and Dr George Lord, Leader of the County Council, marked the start of the work with a guided tour for pupils from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School in Worcester, as well as key staff who have been working on the project.

The Library and History Centre is a partnership between Worcestershire County Council, University of Worcester, Worcester City Council and Advantage West Midlands.

A unique landmark building, the Centre will be a combination of indoor and outdoor working areas, quiet spaces and centres of activity.

In the building there will be:

  • A fully-integrated public and university library
  • Worcestershire Record Office
  • Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service
  • Worcestershire Hub Customer Service Centre

The Centre will be the first of its kind in Europe and will provide a rich resource for the whole of the community of Worcestershire and beyond.

Situated adjacent to the River Severn and next to the new University of Worcester campus, Worcester Library and History Centre is being built by Galliford Try Investment and is a private finance initiative (PFI).

The building has been designed to embrace the needs of everyone and provide a breadth of user-friendly facilities and benefits.  Specialist groups have been consulted and their ideas have been incorporated into the design.  A personal care suite for people with special needs, greater access to curriculum materials and access to digital media will all be available. 

The Centre will be a modern zone for learning, creating a vibrant meeting place for the community, university students and businesses.  It will be a place of learning, a thriving hub, as well as a place of sanctuary and comfort.

The dramatic design of the building and state-of-the-art equipment will attract and inspire new audiences and stimulate long-standing patrons to try an all together new library experience.

Arts & Leisure

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The Centre will bring the entire community into a building which offers interesting cultural and social experiences.

Children

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The children's area will be one of the largest in any library in the country. It will be an exciting place to be and one that children and their families will want to keep coming back to. 

Heritage

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As the heritage centre for the county, the new building will be an exceptional resource not just for people in the City, but for the whole of Worcestershire.

Learning

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The Centre ensures that education really is a life long activity, available to all – from acquiring basic information to encouraging a love of learning, scholarship and creativity.   
  • Fairman. R. The Worcester Library and History Centre: A Shared Vision – A Single Community; Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration:
    an Entrepreneurial Conference for Librarians. June 3-4, 2009, University of North Carolina.
  • Hannaford, A. Worcester: an integrated service for education & community; Library & Information Update, Jan/Feb 2009 p56/7. 
University of Worcester - Worcester County Council - Advantage West Midlands
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