New chapter for library?

NAILSEA library could be demolished and rebuilt on a new site in the town centre - in a bid to bring it up to modern standards.A special working party, set up to review the future of library services across the district, is recommending the current building at Somerset Square is demolished and replaced with a new building.Councillors say the current building - opened in the 1960s - does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and does not now fit the current library service's needs.Suggestions have been put forward of a possible joint new library building in partnership with Weston College which operates in the town.The changes were discussed by councillors at a meeting of the authority's community services policy and scrutiny panel.Panel chairman Ian Peddlesden said: "Nailsea library is not suitable for modern day requirements and the recommendation is that the council should work closely with the town centre operators to look at developing a new library in the town centre."The current building is a bit of a rabbit warren, not only for customers, but staff also."It is possible the current site could be sold off and the funds used towards a new library building, possibly in partnership with the college."The working group is also recommending reviewing the future of library services at Backwell and Pill, with the possibility of replacing them with a mobile, visiting service.Councillor Peddlesden added: "It may be that buildings are closed but where this does happen, the library will be replaced with a better, mobile service."In Backwell, it may be that the library service is made better for the local community by incorporating it into Backwell School."It is not about closing libraries, but providing a better service in a different format.Cllr Peddlesden added that the council's mobile library service was undergoing a revamp in 2008 and any changes would tie in with the changes.The panel's recommendations will now be forwarded onto the local authority's executive.