Proposals to rename library in Manx capital

Members of the council will vote on the move in a meeting on Wednesday

Proposals to rebrand a library in the Isle of Man's capital with be debated by the local authority on Wednesday.

The move to rename Henry Bloom Noble Library, on Duke Street, to Douglas City Library was suggested following the granting of city status in 2022.

The plans were referred to the council's Executive Committee after opinions in the Regeneration and Community Committee (RRC) were divided.

The change, which could see £9,150 spent on new signage if successful, are set to be voted on at the local authority's August meeting.

If approved, about £6,000 of the funding would come from income services and property maintenance funds, while the library would field the remaining costs itself.

Philanthropist and businessman Henry Bloom Noble, who died in 1903, bequeathed large sums of money to the Manx government, which saw the creation of Noble's Hospital and Noble's Park.

The Douglas library was renamed in his honour in 2002.

'Outdated'

While there was support for the idea of a rebrand at a July meeting of the RRC, concerns were raised about the costs of the exterior signage and window vinyl.

It was however noted they were "nearing end-of-life" and needed to be replaced, so the proposal to rename the facility had come forward to coincide with that.

Members agreed that surrounding properties on Duke Street had recently been externally refurbished, which had made the current signage "look outdated in comparison".

Two councillors Andrew Bentley and Frank Schuengel backed the change, but the two other members of the RRC, John Skinner and Stephen Crellin, voted against it.

After reviewing the proposals in early August, the executive committee supported the plans, noting the previous name change from the then Borough Library in 2002.

The agenda for the meeting states the tribute to Mr Noble came about after the then-committee agreed a statue in his honour should not be built as the money "could be better used elsewhere".