If I had a pound for every time someone asks me the question, ‘When are you moving to the Mitchell Library?’ we would have already raised the one million pounds needed for the refurbishment work. I am asked it on the phone, at GWL, by email, in Partick Sainsbury’s, on Buchanan Street, in the petrol station, at every meeting and conference I attend. Of course it is a fair, as well as frequently asked, question; after all it has been over 3 years since we first announced that the Mitchell Library will be our wonderful future home.
So, what’s the answer? I’ll tell you later! First, let me update you on our progress towards that move.
Progress so far
There have been two major developments this year. The first is that we have successfully raised over £40,000 to invest in the next stages of building design work, headed by Gareth Hoskins Architects. This is due for completion by the end of this year and will take us to, in Architects speak, Stage D of the process: the point at which all the requirements of building refurbishment work are met, such as planning permission, asbestos testing, making sure that the floor won’t collapse under our weight…
This is a really vital stage in the development and it also provides up to date costings. Stage D is therefore required by all potential funders approached to finance the refurbishment work. Once we raise all the money, we will then tender for the Architects and Design teams to take us forward to completion.
The cost of the building work will be in excess of one million pounds. So in truth, the answer to the previous FAQ depends. On money. We need to raise over one million pounds to fund this work. The great news is (and this is the second of this year’s major developments!) that we have already secured about 20% of it!
Heritage Lottery Fund
We are so delighted to announce that we have been successful in our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and have been awarded £410,000.
Around half of this will go towards the building costs, specifically funding a dedicated archive room where our precious materials will be properly housed in the right environmental conditions, displayed throughout the Library and will be fully accessible to users. The rest of the funding will go towards a three year project to employ an Archivist who will, among other things, train volunteers in archive related skills and play a lead role in running a series of public events, including some re-enactments and some ‘Antiques Roadshow’ type sessions across the country.
This is a very exciting project indeed and attracted lots of media attention. You may have seen us on the TV, heard us on the radio or read about us in the press. The project will start next year, and we will keep you all informed.
Read more about our HLF grant.
Next steps for GWL
In terms of raising the remaining funding, we are busy submitting other funding bids but are pleased to launch, in the latest edition of GWL News, our ‘Women on the Shelf’ initiative, enabling everyone to have a stake in your future Library.
The Scottish Government has continued to fund my post to scope the potential for GWL achieving national status so that when we do re-launch in our new Mitchell home, we will be a Women’s Library of Scotland (although the name is still to be decided!)
Back to the million pound question: When are we moving to the Mitchell Library? The sooner we raise the money, the sooner we will launch at the Mitchell Library. As it stands at the moment, we aim to raise all the money by next August and be on site by next October, with a launch date of Summer 2010. One thing is certain, it will all be worth it. We will create the most beautiful, accessible, fit for purpose Women’s Library and you will love it!
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