Town's temporary library 'too small' -campaigners

A pop-up book lending service set up in Grimsby while the town's main library is being repaired is not big enough, campaigners have said.

The temporary library opened in the Freshney Place shopping centre in November after Grimsby Central Library closed in March due to water damage that created a risk of asbestos disturbance.

Angela Greenfield, from the Friends of Grimsby Central Library campaign group, said: "The pop-up library fulfils a purpose and some sort of library facility is needed, but it is very small."

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Philip Jackson said: "We know it's not perfect but the alternative would be having no library provision in the town centre".

Ms Greenfield said: "A better location could have been chosen for the pop-up library.

"The staff are doing a fantastic job but it should have been in a bigger unit, there are plenty in Freshney Place they could have used."

Mr Jackson said "It is a pop-up and only temporary and it was a matter of finding premises in the town centre we could bring into use quickly and which were suitable."

When asked about the timescale of Grimsby Central Library opening again he said: "Realistically, the main central library is going to be closed for quite some time.

"We have to strip the asbestos out, we need a full structural survey."

The council's library select committee is now looking at the future of library services across the borough.

Ms Greenfield added that, despite their concerns, the campaign group was "feeling positive at the moment as we have been assured the library select committee wants to see the library back in the building".

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