Surrey Libraries receive £75k funding

Additional funding to Surrey Libraries has meant that they can continue to open up library spaces to even more possibilities for their residents. Increasingly libraries are being used for a whole range of different activities, ensuring that they are a space for residents of all ages to enjoy.  Libraries are about books and so much more, offering a whole range of cultural, social, economic and educational events and activities.

The recent funding of £75k from the Arts Council Cultural Investment Fund will help libraries to continue to deliver their “Dynamic Spaces” project in eight libraries. The first part of this project was completed in 2022 with the provision of flexible shelving in ten libraries, which has meant that libraries can move furniture around to reconfigure spaces to accommodate far more events and services, and for many more of our residents.

This funding will provide further flexible shelving within libraries in Ashtead, Chertsey, Dittons, Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere, Oxted, and Reigate. And the provision of a meeting pod for Egham Library.

With the rise of agile working and many high street banks closing we are increasingly seeing the need for meeting spaces out and about in our communities. And with 52 libraries across Surrey in the heart of communities it makes sense to provide library spaces for that use. We already have rooms available in many libraries which are frequently used by community partners, local partners, local businesses and small businesses, for meetings, drop-ins and support services. As well as providing convenient locations libraries also offer free WIFI provision.

The £75k Cultural Investment Fund is funding that was secured as part of the Libraries Improvement Fund from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and facilitated via Arts Council England.