TAVISTOCK'S bibliophiles will be without a public library from Saturday when the old building in the Pannier Market closes its doors for the final time this weekend, writes Alan Gregory.
The new library and learning centre — part of the quay development on the old Carr's Garage site in Plymouth Road — will be opening its doors to the public for the first time on July 9.
'Members of the community will be able to take extra books out before the library closes and return them to the new site. Videos and CDs will be given extended loans at no extra cost,' said librarian-in-charge Moira Andrews.
She said library users should not worry if they had books due back during the closure, as staff would accept books at the old library or users could wait until the new library opened.
'There will be no book fines for any items returned to the new site during the first week of opening,' she said.
In the interim, library staff will be transferring all the books and other equipment to the new site.
The new building is some three times the size of the old building and to fill the space, there will be new books, CDs and videos.
Mrs Andrews said an extra £35,000 had been spent on adult fiction, plus £28,000 on non-fiction and £10,000 on children's literature, which amounts to some 2,000 new books for the junior section.
The library has sold its music tapes, but aims to increase the CD collection and double its video tape holding.
'We will also be making available more of our local history collection that is not on public display at the moment and that will form part of our local history section,' said Mrs Andrews.
The move will be a big logistical exercise. The local history section of the library alone holds more than 2,000 different items.
'We are looking forward to being there, but it's the bit between this weekend and July 9 we're not looking forward to,' she said.
The nine current staff will be joined by casual volunteers and library people from Barnstaple for the move.
There are no plans to expand the staff, nor alter the library's hours when the new building is opened, though this will be subject to review.
The new library will also have public access computers linked to the Internet, a council information point, an archive service point and a meeting room and training suite.
For townsfolk who cannot wait until July 9 to see the new facilities, there will be a special preview evening from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Friday, July 6.
There will be an entry charge of £1 on this occasion, with all the money raised being donated to the Tavistock Children's Book Festival being held later in the year.