Refurbished Sutton Coldfield library to open on 3 April

The restructuring work needed to reconfigure the building including the incorporation of the café and soft play area for pre-schoolers within the library has been completed on schedule.

Jacqui Kennedy, director of place for Birmingham City Council said: “This is a wonderful example of partners working together to help the community. There has been a huge amount of collaboration and negotiation over the past 18 months and we are now delighted to formally announce the re-opening of the library.

“Thanks must go to all involved: the dedicated volunteers; all those at FOLIO who worked constructively on a solution; Little Green Bookworm; and colleagues at Royal Sutton Town Council. We all look forward to welcoming old and new customers at the library.”

Town Clerk Olive O’Sullivan from Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council who have part funded the library this year and will continue to do so going forward said “The refurbishment of Sutton Coldfield library has been a real community effort, with many people working together to secure and improve an important facility in the town. It also shows what can be achieved when the community, Town Council and City Council work in collaboration. The Town Council is pleased to have been able to provide £180,000 to date towards the cost of running the library, looks forward to continuing to work with FOLIO in support of the library and wishes FOLIO and all their team every success in their new venture.”

FOLIO chair Zoe Toft said: “I cannot wait for the doors to open at 9am on 3 April. Eighteen months of incredibly hard work are coming to fruition and I’m so very excited. To be part of the enormous collaborative effort which has saved the biggest public library in Birmingham outside of the Library of Birmingham itself, has been an honour and I'd like to add my thanks to all the councillors, council staff, volunteers and colleagues who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point.”