Woy Woy Library will be undergoing a mini refurbishment with reduced services from Monday 9 April until mid-May to honour Spike Milligan and his family as well as create a more active and flexible learning space for the community.

The refurbishment has been made possible thanks a State Library of NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grant, where Council received a total of $188,492 to deliver this project.

The works will provide an exhibition space and media room celebrating not only the entertainer Spike Milligan, but the entire Milligan family and Woy Woy area.

Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess, assured the community that every measure will be taken to minimise disruption to customers while this exciting project comes to fruition.

“There will be some noise disruptions and reduced collections over the next five to six weeks while construction crews are on site,” Mrs Burgess said.

“Unfortunately customers will not be able to reserve items located at Woy Woy Library during this time, however, books can still be returned and internet computers will still be available for use.

“Crews will be setting up barricades, similar to what you would see in shopping centres while stores are being refurbished, so the biggest disruption during this time will be noise.

“All other services will still be available and scheduled programming will continue to run.

“Spike Milligan and his family had a special connection to Woy Woy and we are pleased to be able to honour their memory with this special new exhibition space.

Beyond the Spike Milligan exhibition space and media room the grant has provided an opportunity to further improve the amenity and functionality of the Library.

“There will a new staircase to improve safety, the staff counter at the back of the library will be reloaded to improve visibility and security,” Mrs Burgess added.

“Mobile shelving has been incorporated into the changes, providing an opportunity for us to deliver a greater variety of events and higher quality learning programs.

“The breezeway and the back half of the Library will also get a bit of a facelift, including the current Spike Milligan meeting room which will still host regular events and allow for quiet study.

“Even though sections of the library will be out of action for a short while, this refurbishment will allow us to better serve our customers and community’s needs as well as create a space unlike any other in the world, celebrating the legend Spike Milligan.

“I am really excited these works are about to get underway and cannot wait to launch this amazing new space to the community.”

Services at other branches remain unchanged and all online services and eLibrary facilities will continue to be available anywhere, anytime with WIFI.

To keep up to date with the project sign up to the Library e-newsletter via centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/library or use #ccclibraries on social media.