Keyworth Library
Keyworth Library in Nottingham is a centre for reading, learning, culture and community activity. Having served the local community for decades the Library was in need of a major refurbishment to ensure it remained a valuable resource for local people.
Inspire, which delivers libraries on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, appointed YPO’s Design Service team to supply library furniture as part of the refurbishment project. Inspire is an innovative Community Benefit Society that is dedicated to inspiring people to grow, learn and achieve with the help of its services. As well as libraries it manages archives, musical instrument teaching in schools, arts, and the Community Learning and Skills Service.

The Brief
YPO was appointed by Inspire to undertake the supply, delivery and installation of library furniture through the organisation’s compliant framework. While there was still demand for the library’s services, the environment was very dated and tired. YPO’s brief was to refresh the library with new furniture that made it future-fit and accessible for years to come.
The Challenge
Keyworth Library had been closed since January 2017 for refurbishments to take place. The final part of the transformation was the delivery and installation of the furniture but this needed to be done within an extremely tight timeframe to ensure the library could reopen on time in June 2017. The installation was to be carried out in one day. The whole project needed to be achieved within a tight £50k budget, so YPO needed to ensure that all solutions were not only suitable for the facility, but were also cost effective to make the most of the budget constraints. YPO also needed to work seamlessly with other suppliers that were working on the different elements of the transformation.
The Result
In the space of six months Keyworth Library has been redecorated inside and out, and features a newly designed layout, new heating, lighting, shelving and flooring, an accessible toilet, and automatic doors.
The library team and Inspire were particularly impressed with YPO’s ability to turnaround the project very quickly. After spending some time with the team to understand the challenges they faced, YPO put together a proposal for the space and a quote, which was quickly accepted. After YPO was given the green light to proceed, the installation was booked in and everything was delivered and installed in the space of one day. YPO also followed up after installation to ensure that everything was fit for purpose and that Inspire was happy with the service they had received.
Amanda Shaw, Keyworth Library, said: “Working with YPO was a pleasure. We received great support from start to finish and they really understood our challenges, particularly around timings and costings. They managed to deliver an inspiring new library environment within the space of a day and now everyone that visits us compliments us on how fantastic the place now looks.”
Inspire's chief executive officer Peter Gaw said: "We're excited to have completed the development of another library and the opportunity it gives us to create a modern, inviting space for the people of Keyworth."
The new-look library was officially opened in June 17, where the ribbon was cut by Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor John Handley.
Councillor John Cottee, the new Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council's communities and place committee, said: "It's great to see this library re-opening its doors.
"I hope the various improvements and the library's fresh new look will make for an even better environment for local people to read, learn and benefit from the many activities and events which take place here.
"This library is an important hub for the local community so this revamp was a much-needed investment."
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