Tenterden Gateway is a success.
More books were borrowed from the Gateway in the first six months of its life than for the same period last year from the former library.
A Freedom of Information request to Kent County Council by the Kentish Express has revealed that the Gateway – a shared space comprising the library, post office, tourist information and council services – lent 45,585 books from February to July this year, compared with the 43,877 books for February to July 2008 lent from the library’s previous address at The Pebbles. That’s a rise of 3.89 per cent.
The Gateway, at Manor Row, opened its doors in December 2008 and was officially opened by then mayor Cllr John Weller in February.
Its open-space approach, with movable shelving, extra books and internet access appealed to many, while others bemoaned the loss of the historic and popular Pebbles’ site.
For supporters, it ensured the future of the post office and offered modern facilities; for dissenters it lost character and was noisier.
Andrew Swan, information governance officer (communications) at KCC said: “This increase occurred despite the significant drop in issues during April 2009 which coincided with the implementation of Libraries & Archives’ new IT system Envision during which period library users were temporarily unable to reserve items either online or at service points and also with the Easter holiday.”
The Pebbles’ library’s last six months (June to November 2008) saw 45,641 books borrowed.
The Gateway’s first six months (February to July 2009) saw only fractionally fewer books – 45,585 – loaned.
Kent County councillor and Tenterden resident Mike Hill, who championed the project, said: “I’m pleased that the figures have gone up and I am confident that the Gateway will be an excellent facility for Tenterden.
“We have done some revision of the arrangements inside, freeing up the room and that’s proving to be a success.”
He added: “I am pleased that we’re getting a good response from younger subscribers and I am pleased with the buzz there.
“A number of people have said that there is a sense of excitement about it. The old library was well loved but you couldn’t call it an exciting place.”