| Wrexham Library | |
|---|---|
Llyfrgell Wrecsam (Welsh) | |
 The building's entrance in 2013 | |
 | |
| Former names | Wrexham Library and Arts Centre |
| General information | |
| Type | Public library Arts centre (Oriel Wrecsam; 1973–2015) Police station (2019–) Council office (2023–) |
| Address | Rhosddu Road, Wrexham, Wales LL11 1AU |
| Coordinates | 53°02′53″N2°59′38″W / 53.048075°N 2.993892°W /53.048075; -2.993892 |
| Construction started | June 1971 |
| Opened | December 1972 |
| Cost | £178,000 (1971) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | James A Roberts |
| Main contractor | RM Douglas Construction |
Wrexham Library (Welsh:Llyfrgell Wrecsam) is the mainpublic library ofWrexham, Wales. Located in thecity centre, adjacent toLlwyn Isaf, it opened in 1972, superseding theold carnegie library onQueen's Square.
It is the most visited library inNorth Wales, receiving 100,000 in-person and digital visitors annually.
By 1700, the site where the library now stands was partly occupied by a mansion house known asYpsytty (or Ysbyty) Ucha (Welsh for 'Upper Hospital'), later known asLlwyn Isaf, which the nearby field retains its name, while the house itself previously served as the library of Wrexham temporarily.[1][2]
Construction of the purpose-built library building started in June 1971 and took one year and a half to construct. The construction cost £178,000 and was constructed by RM Douglas Construction. The architect of the building wasJames A Roberts.[3] The building, located on Rhosddu Road,[4] opened to the public in December 1972. It contained a music library, private study areas, and a children's library.[3][5][6][7] This building nearLlwyn Isaf replaced theprevious carnegie library building on Queens Square.[8] The building is of theBrutalist style.[9]
Oriel Wrecsam, a contemporary arts centre was based in the building attached to the library on Rhosddu Road since 1973[10] and until 2015, when it moved out of the adjacent building.[11] The extension was still being built when the library first opened.[3]
In 1983, the firstpublic computers arrived in the library.[6]
In 2003, plans to construct a theatre on and adjacent to the site, for Oriel Wrecsam, and using £6 million oflottery funding was cancelled.[10][12]
In 2010, the library was renovated, using a grant of £310,000 awarded for the refurbishment from theWelsh Assembly Government. The renovation included a first floor extension, book and DVD stock enhancements, new computers and self-service check-out stations. The renovation also included aBFI Mediatheque being opened at the library, which contained a curated "Through the Dragon's Eye" collection, partly sourced from theNational Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, which by 2013 was the only BFI Mediatheque in Wales.[13][14] During the renovation the library temporarily moved to Chester Street, although the coffee shop and art gallery remained open during the renovation.[15] The renovated library was reopened byRuth Jones on 22 March 2010.[6][16][17]
In 2011, theBBC, who had some operations in the building announced they were vacating their part of the building, moving to purpose-built studios atGlyndwr University.[10]
In March 2015, Oriel Wrecsam announced they were to leave their premises in the library building for a then unknown location, set to open in 2017.[10] Oriel Wrecsam later announced they would open a shop named "Siop//Shop" on Chester Street on 22 April 2015 and close their existing gallery on 28 March, ending the long association between the gallery and library, and while Oriel Wrecsam was present in the building, both were termed the "Wrexham Library and Art Centre".[11][18] The gallery later became part of theTŷ Pawb development.[19]
Plans were first made in 2014,[20] to relocateWrexham town centre police station into the part of the building, that was formerly an Arts Centre (the former Oriel Wrecsam Gallery) following the demolition of the old Bodhyfryd police station and a new station inLlay.[21] In February 2016, the plans were approved.[22]
In July 2016, plans to transfer control of the library as well asWrexham Museum to a culturetrust orNPDO, were scrapped following a review that the transfer would cost the council more money.[23] The proposal was part of wider plans to outsource the council's Libraries, Heritage and Archives Services, in hope to generate more income.[24] The initial 2015 proposed transfer of responsibility involved a South Wales trust, but a local trust was later explored following opposition from councillors of transferring control to a trust in eitherBlaenau Gwent orMerthyr Tydfil.[24][25][26]
In May 2017, work commenced on the new police station in the connecting building where the Oriel Wrecsam gallery once stood. The gallery had moved toTŷ Pawb.[27]
In April 2019, a minor refurbishment of the library's foyer was conducted.[28][29] A coffee shop in the building, "The Secret Garden", also opened for the renovation.[30]
On 24 May 2019, the Wrexham town police station opened in a part of the library building.[31][32]
In Winter 2022, during theUnited Kingdom cost-of-living crisis, the library would operate as a "warm space", for those unable to afford to heat their homes, and for financial advice and support.[33][34]
In March 2023, Contact Wrexham, the council's support centre providing in-person services, moved into the building from Lord Street and a temporary location in Wrexham Guildhall, following the expiring of the Lord Street building lease.[35][36][37]
From September to December 2023, the building's roof is to be replaced.[38]
The library is said to be the most visited library inNorth Wales, with over 100,000 in-person and digital visitors visiting the library each year. In 2022, it hosted 479 events that had at least 8,000 visitors.[38]
Installed in 2000, on one of its outside walls, there is atile mural, the "Millennium Mural", containing imagery of theActon Four Dogs,Gresford church stained glass, and example's of Wrexham's industrial architecture. Its installation involved over 1,000 children from eight Wrexham schools, working with artist Penny Hampson.[2]
The more Brutalist library next door
