Wath library will temporarily relocate next month as work on a new building forges ahead.
Last year, the Council announced that a new two-storey building will be built on the site of the existing library, as part of a £9.9m community and commercial development being delivered by the Council in the local area.
As part of ongoing work, the existing library service will close its doors on Saturday, 3 May, and relocate temporarily to 4 Sandygate, which was previously the Adrian Allen Training Academy.
The temporary location – which will open on Monday 2 June - will still offer a full provision, including meeting spaces, public PCs, fiction and non-fiction sections, a children’s area, free Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi printing, and a variety of activities and events, including Makerspace sessions.
Demolition of the existing library building will begin this autumn, with the new library set to open in spring 2027.
The new library will be a modern and vibrant space, creating an environment for the community to come together. Public spaces around the library will also be improved as part of the scheme, while the redevelopment will also include commercial space to support a vibrant mix of small businesses.
It’s not the only library investment in Rotherham – with work on a new building in the town centre progressing alongside the market development.
Cllr Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy said: “We’re looking forward to bringing this wonderful new community building and library to Wath.
“Libraries are so important for our communities so it’s great to see plans for the new building ramping up a gear. Not only will the new library in Wath be pleasing on the eye, but it will also provide people with somewhere to enjoy events and all the cultural benefits that come with a comfortable, well-equipped, modern library. The wider development will also give a welcome boost to the local economy.”