Marks One and Two
The original library and town hall was purchased by the people of Penistone through public subscription and with the help of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who matched the funding with his own. Penistone library started off in the top half of the Town Hall building on Shrewsbury road in what is now a council office. It moved to its present location and was officially opened in 1966, the year when we famously won the football World Cup. See the plaque below about the opening.
For some years afterward the move a small 'reading room' (newspapers) remained in the musty room of the Town Hall building. Then it was moved around the back into a shed and finally disappeared. See history page for more information.
Mark Three - The Refurb
A major refurbishment of the library started towards the back end of 2006 and it closed down for a while. It re-opened in February 2007, making it the 'Mark Three' version. Jill kindly gave me a grand tour of the new facilities. Everything had changed around and the reception desk was now at the far end. Originally it was by the main door but a breeze whipped up the desk contents every time the door opened and it couldn't have been much fun for staff in the colder months.
The new-improved library was to have DVDs, CDs, public information leaflets, bus timetables and a good collection of books, PCs with internet access and word processing. As a legal requirement (as I understand it) council minutes were always a feature of the library. The place looks empty in these pictures but there were a few people about at the time. I just waited for them to move out of each view.
The big old austere tables were replaced by smaller round ones, giving a more relaxed 'cafe' feel, and new seating was much more comfortable. In addition to modern fittings, computers and a spacious feel in the main area, the children's area was expanded. the cuddly toys are a kind of 'germ exchange', I think. Through a far door, there is a corridor leading to a large computer room for tutorial work, with a data projector and further on a meeting room with large table. A busy programme of events makes good use of the facilities. The library is a good escape for a change of scenery and routine.
It is fair to say that silence does not rule, however. In fact it can be fairly noisy at times. Some people behave as though they are doing BBC sound effects. On one occasion, a fellow on the next table appeared to be involved in some sort of private paper-tearing competition, supplemented by several long strips of sellotape ripped from a reel. I was thinking of a sand dance as he did it. You know - Wilson, Kepple and Betty. On another occasion, a fellow read an entire newspaper whilst loudly drumming a tattoo on the table with his fingers, to an imaginary tune. Good old 'Care in the Community'.
Penistone Book Club
The library is home to literate people as well as sound effects experts. A BBC4 tv programme featured the book club which is based in the library. The context was an informal literate panel game with a section where panelists had to guess which book the club was analysing. Being a largely humorous programme, I expected jokes about either the name of Penistone or northern accents, but no, the panelists behaved themselves. Jill and Co. did a good job.
Library Essentials
Council Minutes
These public documents are essential for the workings and public scrutiny of local democracy in action. After the kind intervention of Councillor Millner, Council Minutes for just one meeting has now returned to Penistone Library after none had appeared for over a year. There's a large empty gap for more than a year but the local council is about to relaunch their website and it is expected (by me at least) that they will publish all council minutes, council agendas and planning minutes.
Local History
I believe that the preservation of local historical publications is an important role for any library, as (after Google) it is the first place that anyone would expect to look for it. My usual habit with Penistone library has always been to visit the oldest books in the Local History section, but after the refurb, I could not find them. This saddened me immensely because it was always a joy to read them and this pleasure had itself been consigned to the history. No more 'Great Yorkshiremen' or the pamphlet about Netherfield Church or any more of John Dransfield's ramblings. No more 'West Yorkshire Directory' or 'Diocesi Eboracum' or the booklet about the Hearth Tax.
Local history is often preserved in untidy, tatty, stained, dog-eared, musty and unattractive books, handwritten notes and old leaflets and I suspect that they do not fit with the image of a modern library and might have been regarded by some remote committee as something which might deter young visitors. As I could not find them, my worry was that they had been removed and sent off to Barnsley Library for archiving, to be forgotten. If you do not know that something exists, you are not in any position to ask for it.
I enquired of the management of the region's libraries if there was any policy in place to remove old materials but I was assured that there wasn't. They must have been in touch with Penistone library on this matter as librarian Jill noted my concerns and took the trouble to put a message in the guestbook. This was received October 2007 from Jill:
"The Dransfield Collection will stay at the library on a permanent basis, accessible on request. Other local history material is also easily accessible and is on the library catalogue . None of the items will be going to Barnsley in the future. Both collections are advertised within the library and on the various Penistone-related websites."
In fact, there are still some local history books on display but a lot of the old tatty stuff has gone.
Library services page (not updated in a while)
See Barnsley Council website for the Book Club schedule.
