10/2/2009 - 100 not out: Kendal library celebrates its centenary : Cumbria County Council

Celebrations will begin next month to mark the 100th birthday of one of Cumbria's most popular libraries.

Kendal library on Stricklandgate first opened in 1909 - the year Ernest Shackleton reached the South Pole, the first ever Woolworths opened in the UK, and workers began pouring concrete for the Panama Canal.

The library is now well loved as one of the town's most distinguished buildings, made from red Penrith sandstone. It was designed by a local architect, T. F. Pennington, after £5,000 was donated by the famous Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for a new library in the town. The octagonal shaped Foyer was a device for disguising the awkward angle between the frontage and the depth of the building.

The town's first public library was opened in the old Market Hall in the Market Place in 1892. But it soon became so popular that the police often had to be called in to control the crowd, especially in the Reading Room, according to a report in the Westmorland Gazette, where the library’s copy of 'Punch' had to be withdrawn.

The Kendal Mercury & Times of 19 March 1909, reported that the greatest difference between the old and new libraries was in the Lending Library, which employed the new 'open access' system, by which "readers are able to handle and thoroughly examine books before borrowing them". Most of Kendal’s stock is still openly accessible to all.

Although the outside of the building has not changed since 1909, the inside is constantly being altered to try to meet the requirements of a modern service. Some users may remember that the Children’s Library, which has recently been refurbished, was originally in a room at the top of the spiral stone steps. Apparently there were always a few prams parked in the Foyer.

Kendal is the second busiest library in Cumbria and is comparatively small for the amount of use it receives. It was therefore fortunate that in 1996 Cumbria County Council was offered an extension in exchange for some land wanted by the Elephant Yard Shopping Centre developers. In 1999 the extension was opened which currently houses 19 public computers, newspapers and periodicals, the Local Studies Collection and one of the most comprehensive collections of mountaineering literature in the country.

Cllr Barbara Cannon, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member responsible for adults and culture, said:

"Kendal library has become one of the town's best-loved institutions and is still a hotbed of local activity. Next month's celebrations will kickstart the celebrations for 2009 and I hope that by looking into the library's history, more people will be encouraged to use it in the future."

The centenary celebrations will kick off with a display on the history of the library, a celebratory Open Morning during open hours on Thurs 12 March 9.30 –12.00 followed by a party at 2pm in the library (ticket only), a debate, author events and taking part in the Torchlight Procession. A limited number of tickets for the party (dress code: Edwardian) are available on a first-come first-served basis from Hester Gorman: 01539 713532 or 01539 713520. The library is particularly keen to hear from any local people aged 100 or more and invite them to the party too.

Kendal library has already landed a major coup as part of its centenary year by securing an appearance by the international best-selling author John Grogan, author of Marley & Me which was all about his neurotic labrador. He will be appearing this evening (February 10) at 7pm - the event is already a sell-out success, with all 70 tickets scooped up by fans.

Please check our website: www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries or www.clic.cumbria.gov.uk/rooms/ and the local press for details of events throughout the year