Newly refurbished Henley Library set to reopen in April

A new and improved Henley library is set to reopen to residents next month.

The Oxfordshire County Council library, scheduled to reopen at 9am on Tuesday 8 April, has undergone an extensive refurbishment. Changes include new heating systems, lighting, double glazing for improved environmental sustainability, new contemporary furniture, and dedicated work and study spaces with charging points.

The new furniture uses fabric made entirely from recycled plastics, including sea debris and landfill bound bottles.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “We are pleased to reopen Henley’s library after extensive works.

"Our refurbishment makes the library more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, while also being a welcoming and accessible space. We are confident that local people will love the changes; and they now have a library that is modern, warm and better able to meet their needs.”

To facilitate the reopening of the library, the temporary provision at the Old Fire Station Gallery will close on 1 April at 1pm.

The upgrades form part of an ongoing project to modernise Oxfordshire’s libraries, and improve accessibility, reflecting the changing needs of local communities.

The project has been made possible through a combination of central government decarbonisation funds, and developer funding also known as community infrastructure levy (CIL), provided by South Oxfordshire District Council. The work is being delivered by the county council’s libraries and minor works teams.

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