New mini library for residents of redeveloped Royal Hospital
A new mini library has been created for the residents of the redeveloped Royal Hospital Haslar – and a second one is on the way.
Haslar Developments Ltd haspartneredwithaward-winningTheBookShopinLee-onthe-Solenttocreatealibraryin theformerNavalhospitalinAlverstokewhichiscurrentlybeingtransformedintoanew550 home ‘waterside village’ set in 62-acres of grounds.
The Book Shop is one of the oldest surviving independent booksellers on the south coast and was originally opened in 1933 by Leonard Miles as a florists at 142 High Street, with a small lending library. Later that year it evolved into a bookshop. The Book Shop has changed hands a number of times, with current owner Sarah Veal taking over in 2018.
She is dedicated to keeping the shop that she says everyone knows and loves open and unchanged. The newlylaunched Residents’ Library is in Canada House for use by all its residents, and the soon to be launched Trinity House, and features a selection of almost a hundred books curated by Sarah.
It includes a wide range of titles, including classics, fiction, prize-winning authors, travel, food, sport, biographies, art, works by local authors, history and children’ s books. All titles have been purchased through The Book Shop.
Sarah said: ‘The partnership with Royal Haslar to create and develop a Residents’ Library is really exciting and has come at a great time for us.
‘The last few years have been exceptionally challenging for the business, with its future having been "touch-and-go” on a number of occasions during the pandemic.
‘Thanks to the support of loyal local customers and now Royal Has lar, we have managed to remain open and are looking at a more positive future.
‘Royal Haslar is so significant for so many, many people: not just locals like myself who have in the past made use of its medical facilities, but also for the armed forces, in the UK and overseas, and for its unique place in history.
‘The restrictions such wonderful historic buildings impose, especially on the fields of modern medicine and nursing, must have been increasingly challenging, but it is wonderful to see that the local landmark now has new and secure future.’