Hopes building will be bought for library soon
HOPES are high that agreement will be soon be reached on a new home for the library in Wicklow town.
Wicklow County Council and the County Wicklow Library Service are currently in the process of agreeing the purchase the former Ulster Bank Building – which is located in the heart of the town on the junction of The Mall and New Street – and hope to see progress ‘in the near future’. The Wicklow town branch is currently located between the courthouse and Wicklow Gaol.
Negotiations on the longterm rental of a building on Market Square in Rathdrum are also under way. If successful, this would house the local li- brary branch once the building has been redeveloped.
Last year, the Library Development Plan adopted by Wicklow County Council allowed for the provision of new libraries in Wicklow town, Rathdrum, Aughrim and Bray, as well as a replacement mobile library van. The plan, which covers the years 2016 to 2020, also includes the extension of Wi-Fi to every library in the county as well as a commitment to increase the annual book fund.
At the moment, it is envisioned that Aughrim library will see development on its current site, through reconstruction or an extension. However, this is not expected to happen until approximately 2018/2019.
Bray Library on Eglinton Road closed last year for the month of October to facilitate a major refurbishment. It is not expected that the library will move from its current site. An extension may be on the cards but not before 2019 or 2020.