The library occupies the building that was once the Market Hall in Stone. The library moved into the building when the refurbishment project was completed in 2004.
The building was designed by Frederick Bakewell (architect) in 1869- 70. (visit link)
"1869 Market Hall in a conservation area. During refurbishment, a false ceiling was removed to allow installation of a mezzanine first floor and to expose the glass roof lights. Interior walls were removed to open up the ground floor.
Extensive new electrical work, plumbing, decorating and carpeting were carried out including modern lighting and cool-touch radiators. Automatic entrance doors, lift and staircases were installed.
A varied collection of furniture was replaced by white coated steel/beech finish designs. Seating includes leather sofas. A large oval table accommodates the ICT suite.
A modern colour scheme has been incorporated with the children's library wall acting as a focal point. A Gallery style hanging system was installed for framed artwork exhibitions. Assistive technology is available.
The exterior brickwork was cleaned and woodwork/metalwork repainted in accordance with conservation guidelines." Source: (
visit link)
The library offers the following;
Free wi-fi
Free PC access
Bus passes
Printing
Scanning
Photocopying
Local studies
There are regular activities such as Baby Bounce and Rhyme. There are lots more events on at all times and these can be viewed at the calendar on the library website. (
visit link)
A report written by Kerry Ashdown Local Democracy Reporter & Sarah Marshall about the library appeared in The Sentinel on 12th October 2017. The report reads as follows;
"It comes as a high street bank closes and post office's future remains uncertain
STONE’S library has been proposed as one of the next venues to become a community-run facility, it has been revealed.
The news comes amid mounting fears for the future of the High Street following the closure of a Stone bank. And uncertainty over the future of the town centre’s Post Office has sparked fears for the future of the High Street.
The High Street branch of Natwest shut its doors on Monday and the Co-op store, which currently houses the Post Office, is also due to close.
Speaking at last week’s town council meeting, town, Councillor Jill Hood said: “There is still no word on the Post Office but we know when (the building) is going to close in January. I hope we can find some kind of initiative to keep the Post Office in town.
“My biggest worry for the High Street is, if we lose the bank and the Post Office, people will have to go to Newcastle or Tittensor. It seems quite natural that if they go to these places they will shop in these places and they will stop coming into the High Street.
“At the moment Natwest has a mobile bank in the car park. I asked why it wasn’t in the High Street and they said it was due to security.
“I said I thought it would be better to have the mobile bank in the High Street, because we have bollards, CCTV and it is more out in the open.”
This month Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet is due to be asked to approve a 12-week public consultation on the second phase of its “libraries transformation”, which would open in January 2018 if approved.
The first phase saw several local libraries, including those at Baswich and Blythe Bridge, move from council to community-run branches. Penkridge Library was also due to become a community-run venue, but following a campaign by residents and library users, it remained council-managed.
Councillor Hood, who is also sits on the borough and county councils, said: “The county council will be going into consultation in October regarding the libraries. Of the 43 libraries in the county, 19 are already community-run and Stone is one of the libraries being put forward as a community library.
“I really think, as a town council, we should be looking at ways to try to stop it. Who wants the library to change?
“I have tried to point out that our library is very different to a lot of the libraries across Staffordshire. Our library is at the heart of the High Street and a lot are on the edges of communities.
“We have a thriving library; there are all sorts of things that go on there. Every day you can see a snake of children going in and it’s lovely to see. And it’s not just used as a library, there are community events.
“I will be doing everything I can to try to stop them turning Stone into a library run by volunteers and community groups.”