New Home For Porthmadog Library Officially Opens

The new-look Porthmadog Library which is now located at the town’s Glaslyn Centre has officially opened to the public following significant renovation work. Following significant improvement work funded through Welsh Government grant and Gwynedd Council funidng, the Glaslyn Centre in Porthmadog is now home to both a leisure centre and library. The new and improved library includes more tablet computers available to library users, a larger and more attractive children’s section, a video conferencing room, better disability access and more parking spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bringing the services together will mean that staff can pool their resources to ensure a better service for customers, and it is expected that the relocation will deliver annual savings of approximately £18,000 to the Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ioan Thomas, the Gwynedd Cabinet member responsible for the Library Service, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to see Porthmadog Library’s new home officially opened. I am confident that our work to relocate the facility will strengthen Porthmadog library’s position with increased use of both the library and leisure facilities, and indeed means that it is open for more hours than it was in the former building, as it is now open over lunchtime. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As we note the official opening of the library, it is important that we pay tribute to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates for his support in the Council’s application for Welsh Government grant funding towards this important community project. I hope now that local people make the most of this exciting facility which rings together a range of resources under the one roof and delivers improved facilities for the area’s library users.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mair Rowlands, the Gwynedd Cabinet Member responsible for Leisure added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By locating the library and leisure centre under one roof, we aim to ensure that we can continue to offer high quality facilities for the people of Porthmadog and the surrounding area, whatever they are looking for – from books and films, access to computers and public wi-fi, information sources and children’s activities as well as the wide-range of leisure facilities on-site.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​