Booking now! Potential new lease of life for Hove Library

New ideas could generate more income needed for the ageing Hove Library building through extra library facilities, and better use of available space.

A marketing exercise by Brighton & Hove City Council has started to advertise potential new public and commercial spaces in Hove Library through Chartered Surveyors Carr & Priddle. The extra cash this could create would be used to help safeguard the future of the building as a public library.

Councillor Alan Robins, Chair of the Economic Development & Culture Committee said: “We need to explore how to generate more income to help cover the rising costs of Hove Library. The ideas put forward so far not only generate income, but also give a new lease of life for Hove Library with extra facilities for the community.”

A public exhibition of ideas was held at Hove Library earlier in the year. 72 per cent of comments at the exhibition were in support of the pilot project to host a new study space for British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) students.

We need to explore how to generate more income to help cover the rising costs of Hove Library

The idea of a new café integrated into the main library area, where library users would be able to browse, read, and relax in comfort, was supported by 67 per cent of people who gave comments. 77 per cent also supported the idea of developing the basement area, currently not in public use, into a new commercial space such as an office, nursery or café.

The council has said that they are open to any ideas if they are appropriate and suitable for the building, and do not disrupt from its primary use as a public library. All the proposed ideas have received cross party support through the joint working group for Hove Library.

Find out more about Hove Library and continue to offer your views at brighton-hove.gov.uk/future-hove-library