Heywood library set for facelift

Heywood Library will be closing shortly while Rochdale Borough Council undertakes a major refurbishment to improve the interior of this 100-year-old Grade 2 listed building. 

The library, which has already benefited from roof repairs and new windows, will get a new heating system, redecoration, improved toilet facilities, be rewired and have its parquet floor restored.  Existing original features will be retained but the layout will be opened up to give a bright new feel with modern shelving in keeping with the character of the building and an upgrade of the bookstock. Office space is being moved upstairs, creating space for a community meeting room on the ground floor.

Work is expected to last for six months and the library will only offer a limited service from Monday 12 November while staff prepare for the closure. Until Saturday 24 November customers will be able to return books to the foyer, where a sale of withdrawn books at reduced prices will be held.  After this date the library will be completely closed until the renovations are complete.  Loan periods for books have been extended to cover the closure and fines will be suspended until the library reopens.

To minimise any inconvenience, opening hours at Darnhill Library, Argyle Parade are being extended and the following services will be temporarily transferred there; Daily newspapers, "Best Sellers" collection, Census records and Heywood Advertiser back copies on microfilm, House of Images photographic collection on computer, Talking Books and Graphic novels for teenagers. "Silver Surfers" internet sessions will go ahead at Darnhill Library on Friday afternoons.  Children's Storysacks will be available from Spotland Library.

Customers who have placed book reservations for collection at Heywood Library, will be contacted once the book is available, to agree an alternative collection point.

Rochdale Borough Council are encouraging customers to use any of the other sixteen libraries in the borough during this period and may also return books borrowed from Heywood Library to any of these libraries. The nearest libraries to Heywood are Darnhill, Norden, Middleton and Spotland. Opening hours for these libraries are shown below:

• Darn Hill branch, Argyle Parade, Argyll Street, Heywood, OL10 3RY.
  Telephone : 01706 368142.
  
  Monday, 9.30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 7:30pm.
  Tuesday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Wednesday, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  Thursday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Friday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Saturday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 4.00pm
  
  Bus service: 163 every ten minutes from outside Heywood Library. stand G,  alight at Argyll Parade
  
  
• Norden branch, Norden Community School, Shawfield Lane, Norden, OL12 7RQ
  Telephone : 01706 631544
  
  Monday, 2.00pm to 5.00pm, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
  Tuesday, 9:30am to 1.00pm
  Wednesday, Closed
  Thursday, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Friday, Closed
  Saturday, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  
  Bus service: 167 every hour from outside Heywood Library, stand F, alight at Shawfield Lane and walk up
  
  
• Spotland branch, Ings Lane, Rochdale, OL12 7AL
  Telephone:  01706 648505
  
  Monday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 7:30pm
  Tuesday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Wednesday, Closed
  Thursday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Friday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5:30pm
  Saturday, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  
  Bus service:  461 every thirty minutes from top of Bamford Road, stand C, alight at Sandy Lane
  
  
• Middleton library, Long Street, Middleton, M24 6DU
  Telephone : 0161 643 5228
  
  Monday, 9:30am to 7:30pm
  Tuesday, 10.00am to 5:30pm
  Wednesday, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  Thursday, 9:30am to 5:30pm
  Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm
  Saturday, 9:30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 4.00pm
  
  Bus service: 163 every ten minutes from opposite Heywood Library, stand E, to bottom of Long Street, and walk back up Long Street