The funding will be used to enhance existing library spaces and ensure services continue to meet the changing needs of residents. Planned improvements include upgrades to buildings and the introduction of new technology to support how people access and use library services.
Walsall is one of four library services in the West Midlands to receive funding through the Government’s £19.7 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to improve access to arts and culture in communities across the UK.
Delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the funding programme includes the Libraries Improvement Fund, which supports library services to modernise facilities and respond to evolving patterns of use.
“ Libraries are more than buildings with books in, libraries are about people, ideas and opportunity. The Libraries Improvement Fund helps libraries to flourish as safe, trusted spaces for their communities.
Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England
We’re pleased to be supporting Walsall Council with £170,000 to improve the flexibility of their existing space and introduce new technology to engage with community feedback, strengthening their offer for many years to come. “
The funding will be distributed across Walsall’s seven community libraries: Aldridge Community Library, Bloxwich Community Library, Brownhills Community Library, Darlaston Community Library, Lichfield Street Hub (Central Library & Archives) and Streetly Community Library.
As part of this programme, improvements will focus on two key areas. At Darlaston Library, the first floor will be upgraded to create a more flexible space, supporting a wider range of community-led activities and enabling greater use of the building.
Across all seven libraries, multilingual customer satisfaction kiosks will be introduced, alongside portable devices for use at events, helping to gather feedback and inform ongoing service development.
These improvements will support the ongoing development of library services, helping to maintain welcoming, accessible spaces while ensuring facilities are equipped to meet future demand.
To find out more about Walsall Libraries, visit: go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries.
