Mansfield Central Library, part of Nottinghamshire County Council Libraries Services, was a tired and dull space, failing its community. Hidden away, above the shopping centre, the dated and uninspiring interior was an unpleasant space for the public and staff.
The design brief was to create an interior that would offer a unique and uplifting place for the community to want to visit time and again, irrespective of age. Producing a simple and bright illustrative approach, the library has been transformed, resulting in a positive change in the use of the service, contrasting with declining national figures.
The investment has seen immediate return, with the number of items borrowed per year increasing 72% and member numbers more than doubling to 4,820. Computer and internet use has also increased with an 88% uplift in user hours in 2012 and 75,934 hours logged in 2013. The impact on staff has also been hugely positive, with improved morale and engagement with their working environment and the public.
