Wyre Forest News
Kidderminster Library gallery space 'must be retained'
7:30am Thursday 23rd February 2012
A KIDDERMINSTER Library gallery user says the space must be retained if any changes are made to the service.
Plans which could see library space, including Kidderminster Library’s, being shared with other services were approved by Worcestershire County Council in December It has led to fears the library’s top-floor gallery space and piano could be moved or taken away.
Dr Norman Berisford, of Upper Arley, said: “The gallery space must be retained. It is really the only meeting centre of that sort across Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley.
“When it is fully booked and there is an exhibition on it is used every day. It is used for conferences as well.”
Dr Berisford organises an exhibition at the gallery each year and his wife Margaret plays piano at the venue fortnightly for Kemp Hospice.
“I think it would be a surprise to a lot of people if anything happened to the gallery,” he added, “There would not be any space at all for the piano if they had to move it, which is a shame because it is a beautiful instrument.”
The county council strategic libraries and learning manager Kathy Kirk said any proposal which did go through would retain some gallery space for communal use as well as the library piano.
She said: "No decisions will be made before we get the views of residents and we will be consulting with local people and existing library users as to how they would like to see the space used.”
Conservative councillor John Campion, county council member for localism and communities, added: “There are no specific proposals at the moment.
“The basis of our decisions will be about better use of our assets and we need to make sure we get better use of all our libraries and buildings. It is right that all our spaces are being looked at.”