Look through pages of library’s history (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Look through pages of library’s history

12:06pm Tuesday 10th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

“BASINGSTOKE has never had it so good” – that must have been the thought of the man who opened Basingstoke Central Library on November 20, 1969.

That man was the former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, who described the new library – which this month celebrates its 40th anniversary – as a “wonderful building with a great sense of space”.

Costing £285,000, the spacious new building, boasted an extensive main lending library, a children’s and reference library and a music library.

David Stelling, who is library officer at Basingstoke Library, in Westminster House, Festival Place, said: “The library was on the edge of the town’s new shopping centre, in Potters Walk, adjoining Church Street, in what was called the Central Area Redevelopment of Basingstoke.

“As far as we can tell, Harold Macmillan opened the library because of the connection with Basingstoke and Macmillan Publishing, which is still based here.”

According to a report published in The Gazette on November 29, 1969, the new library won the approval of the townsfolk.

The paper reported that senior assistant librarian Mary Bradley and her colleagues received 50 applications for membership on its first day.

Designed to be flexible in its layout, it was built to cater for the needs of the fast-expanding town, offering more than 50,000 books.

The modern building was decorated with a “colour scheme that was warm and bright, to create a comfortable atmosphere in which to browse and study at leisure”.

It must have proved to be quite a contrast to the old library, which was housed in the former Basingstoke Mechanics’ Institute in New Street, which was built in 1869.

David said the institute had provided a library service in Basingstoke since 1841. The Mechanics’ Institute was part of a nationwide movement that was formed to provide adult education, primarily for working men.

“Here in Basingstoke, like many others, the Mechanics’ Institute had a library and it was also was used as the town’s museum,” said David.

“But in the 1920s, the institute ran out of money and so the library and museum were taken over by Basingstoke Corporation.

“At some time shortly after the Second World War, Basingstoke’s library service became part of Hampshire County Council’s library service, with the first professional librarian being appointed in 1947.

“Prior to the war a lot of small independent booksellers would have operated libraries, but these were superseded by the public libraries.”

Following a major reorganisation of the County Library Service in 1961, the New Street site was designated regional headquarters for Hampshire’s north region.

This saw the library being re-equipped, with the addition of a prefabricated building at the back, to provide a workroom, bookstack and offices.

“Then in 1969 we moved to where we are today,” said David.

As well as all the books that were transferred from the old library to the new building, the new site featured a photo-charging system.

It simultaneously recorded on microfilm the title page of books being borrowed, along with the reader’s ticket, and book tickets, giving the librarian immediate access to the information.

According to The Gazette’s report, the first book from the library that went through the photo-charging machine was presented to Harold Macmillan.

In some ways the new library emulated the purpose of the original Mechanics’ Institute.

“When the library first opened, there were a lot of activities on the ground floor with lectures and adult education activities,” said David.

“The library has gone through lots of changes from time to time and it obviously occupies broadly the same space as it was originally designed for. The last major refurbishment was in the 1990s.”

Among those who have seen the many changes take place at Basingstoke Library is information assistant Ann Mitchell.

She said: “I’ve been at the library since 1988 so I’ve seen a few changes. Its role has changed as its users have changed, but it still has its place in the community, while it has evolved and embraced new technologies.

“When the Internet came into the library, we saw a change in the type of people who came in.

Suddenly we had a great influx of new people, many new to the town, with many from overseas, and this has made things very interesting and given the library a whole new outlook.

“Over the years I’ve met some interesting characters here and plenty of people who have been regular users.

“Some have almost shared half their lives with us, with them bringing in their children and grandchildren to the library.”

Back in 1974, while the library was still new, a book called A Book for Me was published, aimed at children all over the country. It showed children how to use libraries and featured two young girls, who were possibly sisters.

Ann said: “It just happened that they picked Basingstoke Library, perhaps because it was new or because it was near the publishers who were based in Kingsclere.

“It would be good to know who the girls were and if they still use the library. We don’t know whether they were young models, actresses or daughters of staff.”

If you know who the girls pictured above left on this page are, or have any memories of the early days of Basingstoke Library, please contact David or Ann on 01256 363793.

Alternatively, you can email them at david.stelling @hants.gov.uk or ann.mitchell @hants.gov.uk.

• Print
• Email
• Share