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Hillingdon hails Coates revamp

19.03.08 Benedicte Page

Hillingdon Council has hailed the "outstanding" performance of Ruislip Manor library, the first in its high-profile overhaul of libraries designed by campaigner Tim Coates.

The council has released figures that show sharp increases in the library's visitor and issue numbers since it re-opened in a new building in October last year. Ruislip Manor has clocked up 72,087 visitors in the past five months, nearly twice as many as in the equivalent period a year earlier (38,860). Book issue numbers are up 66% from 39,933 to 66,455, with new members rising 140% from 479 to 1,155.

The figures come as Hillingdon prepares to open its second improved library, Manor Farm, this weekend. Manor Farm library has been renovated, including a completely redesigned children’s library, and includes new book stock and "state of the art" computers free to use for library members. Opening hours have also been extended.

Hillingdon councillor Henry Higgins said: "The popularity of the new Ruislip Manor library has been outstanding and we are pleased to be opening another improved library facility for Hillingdon...We are continuing with our commitment to provide better libraries for our residents with improved book stock and an environment fit for the 21st century."

Coates' planned overhaul is set to see all 17 of Hillingdon's libraries refurbished, with savings made through the supply chain used to increase book stock, and an annual saving of £250,000 for the library service overall.

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By Emma Barnes

What a superb story. Made my day.

19 Mar 08 07:21

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By George Harding (Harding Books Ltd)

Hooray for Henry Higgins of Hillingdon! Nobody is more pleased than I that a senior politician at last has a strategy for halting the decline of public libraries. I hope it can be sustained in the long term - when rolled out to all Hillingdon libraries, it will be a beacon for others to follow. But at this point in its development, I am reminded of the words of Mao Tse Tung, when asked his opinion of the French Revolution: he replied 'It is too early to say...'

24 Mar 08 12:00

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By josie mitchell

As a senior Librarian in Hillingdon, I was surprised to see that Tim Coates has been hailed as a library designer - I was under the impression that these libraries were designed by an architect employed by the council! The saving was one-off at the expense of several librarian posts Please get your facts right.

31 Mar 08 13:21

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By Richard Mitchell

An annual saving? could we see Tim's figures? would they be as wrong as the ones he planted in the Times the other week? So in four years time Hillingdon will have 'saved' £1,000,000? - really? - from the 'supply chain'? really? Could we know by how much Hillingdon's book fund was under (yes under) spent 07/08?

31 Mar 08 21:35

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