Opening the next chapter at Mitchell Library

Literary fans are welcome to check in for a browse and to borrow a book or two to help them through the latest restriction, finds Angus Howarth

The much-loved Mitchell Library reopened to the public yesterday, welcoming visitors back for the first time in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Customers will once again be able to borrow books from the Granville Street area of the library, with research visits to Special Collections, Archives, General Services and the Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre available through free, prebooked appointments Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers Culture, Sport and Learning in the city, has confirmed.

PC access and study space will also be available to book in advance, free of charge.

The new booking system forms part of a range of hygiene measures introduced by Glasgow Life, which include one-way systems, book quarantine and reduced visitor numbers.

The Mitchell Library is the eleventh library to re-open to the public since lockdown. Alongside the city’s libraries, Glasgow Life has also reopened three museums and seven Glasgow Club venues. Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor David Mcdonald said: “The people of Glasgow have been engaging with our library offer in different ways over the past seven months, with thousands of people engaging with the wide-range of services available online.

More than 5,000 new members have joined Glasgow Libraries since the beginning of spring, and we know that many residents, communities and businesses alike have been eagerly anticipating the re-opening of the Mitchell.

"This iconic building is important to the people of our city, and we recognise that many people not only enjoy but also rely on the library offer.”

Pictures: John Devlin 0 Book lovers have made their return to Glasgow’s Mitchell Library as the literary establishment welcomed the public back to choose a good read or two from it’s hallowed shelves.