Literary heroes to help turn new page in library’s history

Poet Roger McGough and Derbyshire writer Berlie Doherty are two of the names who will be helping to celebrate the reopening of Chesterfield Library, with the first event due to take place next week.

The programme starts on Wednesday, February 29, and will run until the end of March – and staff said the events which have been arranged to mark the occasion would include “something for everyone”.

A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council, which runs the library, said: “Major work has created a more welcoming and spacious entrance area complete with new book display stands and seating.

“Self-service terminals and a new counter are also part of the refurbishment which closed the New Beetwell Street library for three weeks.

“Since it re-opened visits are up, with more than 4,300 visitors on January 30, which was its first day – almost double the usual number for a Monday.

“Staff have issued 25,000 items in the first three weeks – up 10 per cent on last year.”

On Wednesday, author Berlie Doherty who is also Derbyshire’s reading champion with host an “evening with” event which starts 7.30pm, while a health and wellbeing day will be held on March, 2.

In the week beginning March 12 librarians will host free behind the scenes tours, including parts of the library not normally open to the public.

Also on Monday, March 12, Roger McGough will present That Awkward Age – an evening of poems which organisers said would “amaze and delight” and on Wednesday March 14 local poets Ann Atkinson, Matt Black, Cathy Grindrod and River Wolton will share their poems inspired by Derbyshire.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council Andrew Lewer said: “We are delighted with the improvements which we hope will make the library more popular than ever.

“To mark the completion of this work we have organised a series of events, including behind-the-scenes tours and films of Chesterfield in days gone by.”