Corby Library - Corby

Robert M.

The staff are really friendly and helpful, the atmosphere is nice and quiet every time I've been in and there's a wide array of books. There's been times where I haven't necessarily found what I've been looking for, but I really can't knock them for that. There's millions of books in the world, so you can't expect a single library to carry everything. A good little library and I'm grateful to be able to access it.

Rupert W. M.

I can understand why some people don't like this library. Some reviewers say it's cold and the staff are unfriendly and this reflects their experience.

My experience is exactly the opposite. To me this library is one of the best I've seen in the UK; only Liverpool City Library is better but that one is too busy. I went straight for a place where I could use my laptop and only spoke to two members of staff, and they were perfectly helpful and polite.

It's also a perfect winter day so I'm blessed with sharp sunlight, which brings out the angles on the modern structure (the Cube) which encloses the library. It's a bold new design that is unusual in England where you rarely get new design outside of the financial part of London. Most British libraries are old/renovated or new but copied from some old design that has been used all over the country. Corby library design is unique and hopefully my photos reflect this.

The inside of the library does look more like a Berlin gallery than a library in the Midlands so, again, I know where the criticisms come from. But, for me it works so well.

There's a historical angle I'm really interested in:

Corby was a mono-industrial town with a workforce that had been imported from Glasgow. When the steelworks closed unemployement soared and the town was essentially gutted.

But, as often happens in these cases, something had to be done. I don't know exactly what happened but I can tell you what this town looks like when you drive into it: superb. There is a forest of new trees on the outskirt and the buildings look like they're in some sort of 1970s museum. Lots of parkland in the centre (I wonder if that's where the steelworks were?) -- and in the middle of it all is the Cube and the Pool, which is housed in another superbly designed building.

I came here from about 40 miles away, just to seen a town I'd heard was a dive and what do I find but a library to beat all others. I love it and will spend the rest of the day in my superb little alcove which faces the forest and blue sky.

jack

If you are trying to do work do not come here, it is noisier in here than outside lol. Everyone seems to be shouting and it is far from a library environment, kids running and shouting, adults talking loud, awful place.

Jake M.

The Corby Library is inside the council building on the bottom floor, it's a nice library but I do wish it had better opening times because it feels like it's not open long enough. There is also not much space to be able to study other than a couple of seats and tables being spaced far out.

I've also had incidents where I've tried to study and use the facilities that are offered however there is no way to book a space and it's often overrun with teens who take up all the space just to sit and chat. It's not a warm environment and it's very cold and uncomfortable which is why I don't go there to study often.

Giles B.

A great community resource in the centre of town. The staff and volunteers are so friendly and helpful and really keen to promote reading. Signing up for membership was very straight forward, and includes benefits of access to the BorrowBox and Libby apps where ebooks and audio books are available to borrow for free.

KL D.

Nice facilities but very noisy environment.

Sharon L. C.

it's quiet, in that building you can find more offices like the registration office, Citizen Advice, the prisoner strives to serve you well

Petty

Fantastic service, good customer service. The young man who works there is super fast and has some amazing skills. Vry comfortable and clean.