Woodside Library to reopen this month following £2.3 million refurbishment

Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers culture and sport in the city, has today (Thursday) confirmed the reopening date for Woodside Library.

The popular West End library will reopen on Monday 28 March, following a £2.3 million capital investment from Glasgow City Council.

Now home to a flexible, vibrant community space, new study areas and a colourful woodland-themed children’s area stocked with books chosen by pupils from Oakgrove and St Joseph’s primary schools, the much-loved community library will be open full-time, six days a week, for the first time in the wake of the pandemic.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

"We know how much the people of Glasgow value their local libraries which is why we have invested more than £2million into improving this vital community asset, thanks to funding from Glasgow City Council.

Many of the important, architectural features of the building have been carefully restored while the internal spaces have been modernised to ensure they can provide services that library customers require, including reading and literacy support, bookable space for community activities, individual study spaces and free, public access Wi-Fi.

All of the improvement works at Woodside Library were developed in consultation with the local community, and local primary school pupils, to ensure that the library remains a key community facility for years to come.”

Pupils from Oakgrove and St Joseph’s Primary Schools helped to shape the junior book selection by voting for their favourite titles and picking out some of their favourite children’s quotes to help decorate the walls.

Gaining a sneak preview of the library ahead of reopening, twelve lucky pupils were on hand to stock the shelves in the children’s area with some of their favourite books.

Primary Five pupil Thomas, from St Joseph’s Primary School, said:

"The library gives you lots of opportunities to come and relax after school and spend your time reading books. It’s got really cool places to read and lots of good books.”

Tina, from Primary Five at Oakgrove Primary School, added:

"It’s like a castle. A castle full of books.”

One of Glasgow’s Carnegie libraries, Woodside Library has served the people of the city since 1905 and, alongside the new children’s area, the improvement works have also seen waterproofing works carried out to the library roof, energy efficient lighting installed, and heating and electrical upgrades completed throughout the venue.

In March 2020, like all public buildings, Woodside Library was forced to close in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. In the years preceding the closure in response to the pandemic, sections of the library were temporarily closed due to safety concerns with some of the original architectural features, including the glazed dome.

Now fully restored, the dome is one of many original architectural features within the library to have been sympathetically restored by City Building Glasgow. Other key features to have been given a new lease of life through the refurbishment works include the coving and an ornate glass and brass chandelier, which sits above the adult lending and study area.

New shelving and display units have been installed, improved accessibility and increased toilet provision provided, and the external stonework has also been repaired.

Woodside Library customers will also notice a range of new books, upgraded computer operating systems and bookable community spaces, including a new private kitchen area.

Further information on the services available at all Glasgow Libraries can be found at www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries-information.