Ref: tn_11705
Date: 5th December 2005

Christmas Closedown for Ashton Library

Ashton Library customers are being reminded that their library will close earlier than most for Christmas, to allow completion of the first phase of a major £153,000 refurbishment.

The library will close at 7pm on Tuesday 20th December and is scheduled to re-open in the New Year at 9.30am on Tuesday 3rd January. In the meantime, contractors will be working round-the-clock installing the new counter and shelving.

Stock, telephones and computers are also being moved, so library staff will be unable to respond to telephone or e-mail enquiries over the holiday period. Customers can return or renew items at any of Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust's 'Explore' libraries, the nearest branches being Abram (tel. 866350), Golborne (777800), Hindley (255287) and Wigan (827621).

Joan Unsworth, Community Library Officer at Ashton Library says: "This is essential work which will allow us to remain open during Phase 2 when the builders work in the main library area and we apologise for any inconvenience to customers.
Alternative libraries will be open during the holiday period, apart from Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Bank Holidays, and people with Internet access can renew their loans online anytime - they just need to ask for their PIN number at the library.

"The end result will see Ashton Library transformed into a modern public facility, providing excellent learning, community and information facilities to people of all ages in the Ashton area."

The aim of the refurbishment is to retain the existing architectural value of the Carnegie library and to modernise internal facilities and services. Central to the changes at the library is the introduction of the Explore brand, which was been successfully launched earlier this year at Golborne Library. This will provide a more welcoming place in which people can enjoy new opportunities in a comfortable environment. The library will also include a dedicated area for children and young people in a new area also suitable for community activities.

Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust's 'vision' for libraries also includes re-programming of the libraries activity programme and the introduction of new opening hours across the service, including Sunday opening in Ashton.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for 300,000 residents across Wigan borough.


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