Can Hereford's new library match The Hive?

With Hereford’s new library now heading for Shirehall rather than Maylord Orchards, will the end result be the best possible resource for the city?

Neighbouring cathedral city Worcester, where The Hive, a vast city landmark co-run by the county council and University of Worcester that opened 11 years ago, gives some pointers.

According to Coun Ellie Chowns, head of the Green group of councillors and a vocal opponent of the switch to Shirehall, the original plans for the Maylord library and learning centre “were very much inspired by the Hive and others with a much wider vision than a traditional library”.

She worries that the Shirehall plan “wouldn’t be nearly as accessible or exciting, and wouldn’t help with the regeneration of our city centre”.

Certainly The Hive’s range of uses, and users, of is one of its strongest cards. Its quarter of a million books are shared between the university and public. As well as a large dedicated space for children and school groups, it is also a resource for teachers and trainees.

It offers space for businesses and helps people acquire digital and other skills to progress to work or study, as well as putting on a cultural and events programme which draws on its large archive and archaeology collection.

Despite its scale, The award-winning Hive building sits in an accessible spot in Worcester city centre where it can be easily reached on foot, by bike or bus, and has two adjacent car parks. And it’s open much longer hours than a typical municipal library – from 8.30am to 10pm every day.

It may have been open for over a decade, but with its ample natural light the building feels fresh, welcoming and well cared-for. The loos, always a useful barometer, show no signs of neglect.

Coun Chowns has warned that a Shirehall library risks becoming an expensive white elephant. In this reporter’s view, the best way to avoid that, based on what seems to be working at The Hive, is to make it serve as many purposes, and relevant to as many people, as possible. And to keep at it.

Asked about this, Coun Harry Bramer, the Conservative cabinet member chiefly responsible for the project, claimed Shirehall “offers a immeasurably better outcome for Herefordshire and its residents”.

With “a larger overall footprint” than Maylord, he said the now favoured project “enables us to bring under one roof a multitude of services including adult learning, health and wellbeing and community services”.