Huddersfield Central Library

Huddersfield Library, Kirklees Council’s Central Library and Art Gallery, is a four-storey, Grade II listed building in the town centre.

The task was to transform the Lending department into a flexible space, within the limits of its listed status.

With a growing demand for open space in the building to hold events, but stifled by its fixed shelving throughout the space, we worked with Kirklees Libraries, specifying mobile bays that contrasted with the listed, fixed shelves around the perimeter.

The result was a refreshed Lending Library that can now be used to hold one-off events, moving the shelving back to make use of the vast area on the ground floor of the building. The shelf signage makes it easier for customers to navigate their way around the large stock selection.

Contemporary, striking tones were chosen to give the library a lift, with an accent of orange on the new counter, which now accommodates the Tourist Information offer that was formerly in the foyer.

‘Latitude’ shelving is open-backed and lower than the 1960’s wooden bays it replaced, giving the space a sense of openness and light.

A few months after the shelving installation, a ground-breaking Oasis Soft meeting pod was added to the lower ground floor, adding further to the service offer.