Library marks fifth anniversary of child section

The children's section at Guille-Allès Library was renovated in 2018 to create a new space for younger children.

A library in Guernsey is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the renovation of its children's area.

The children's section at Guille-Allès was redesigned in 2018 to create a new space for young people to enjoy, resulting in it being shortlisted in the RIBA [Royal Institute of British Architects] South East Awards in 2022.

In the first year after the revamp, library visits rose by 8% to more than 160,000, and children's book loans also rose, with 2023 figures on course to exceed those from 2019, staff said.

To celebrate the milestone, the library is hosting a birthday-themed "Family Stories" session, and children would have the chance to make a birthday card for a reading tree, they added.

The new design incorporates the full height of the rooms, to increase the space for storing books.

The revamp was sponsored by the Sarah Groves Foundation, the Skipton Swimarathon, the Ana Leaf Foundation and the John Ramplin Trust.

Jodie Hearn, head of Children & Young People’s Services, said: “There’s a real wow factor to the new children’s library, and you can see it on children’s faces when they walk in for the first time."

"They’re always so excited about the staircases, the secret passageways and the reading nooks – they love to be able to grab a book and tuck themselves away somewhere to start reading.”

Architect Oliver Westgarth said project remained the one "that I am most proud of".

He said: "It touches on so much of what I hold to be valuable in life.

"Design-wise, I feel it publicly showcases the impact good design can have and what we as architects can do for our communities."