Grantown Library

Grantown Library is situated in Grantown-on-Spey, a small, popular holiday town in the Highlands, with a population of around two and a half thousand. There is a secondary school, a primary school, nursery and playgroup and the town welcomes a high number of tourists throughout the year.

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Renewed library in historic building

Prior to re-locating the library welcomed 10,000 visitors per year, mainly traditional library users. There were 2 peoples’ network computers and Wi Fi provision was offered, though the uptake was very low. The library suffered from a poor physical environment and had limited potential to hold events and activities.

Grantown Library relocated into the newly refurbished Grantown Courthouse, an attractive, historic building in the busy town square. The Highland Council’s Service Point operates from a shared counter with the library. The redesigned Grantown Library funded by The Highland Council, had to reflect the new vision for libraries in the Highlands where libraries operate as “community hubs”, providing residents with multiple reasons to visit while encouraging them to spend more time and derive more benefit from their visit. It would therefore be a busy space that would attract new local customers, including Service Point customers as well as more traditional library customers. Moreover, the new library should be attractive enough to tempt the many visitors and tourists to the town to come inside. After consulting the local community, thedesignconcept ltd. created a stylish, fresh and modern design, while celebrating the towns status as the heart of the Cairngorm National Park.

Each part of the library was designed with specific users in mind, from a new twist on delivering a traditional reading room to a fun children’s corner featuring mountain and woodland and populated by wolves, snowy owls and woodland creatures!. Teenagers love their bespoke seat and shelving area, complete with graphic of a snow boarder and there is plenty of seating throughout the library, also incorporating charging points for mobile devices. Customers were consulted and a local’s winning photo was enlarged and displayed above the computers. Many people, who have popped in, just to look, have stayed and joined the library. Library and Service Point staff love working in the new environment and everyone who visits has been enthusiastic in their praise.

Don't take our word for it...

“Customer numbers have almost doubled since the library opened and the new, flexible space allows us to accommodate a wide programme of events and activities that was previously unthinkable.

Thedesignconcept ltd. have fully delivered on every promise in their original tender submission and have worked with High Life Highland and The Highland Council to give the community a facility that is already loved by the local community and visitors alike. (The staff are over the moon as well!).”

John West
Principal Libraries Manager
High Life Highland