ABSTRACT
This chapter gives a flavour of the transformation that has been effected in a run-down library in the centre of a small industrial town in Derbyshire. A building which appeared to have reached the end of its useful life, and which was experiencing declining levels of use, has been reborn as a modern, thriving resource at the heart of the local community. Long Eaton Library was opened in 1906 following a local appeal for subscriptions but the bulk of the funding for the building itself came from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. The library, a Grade II listed building, stands in a small park on the edge of the main shopping street, and is a fine example of Art Nouveau design. Its features include a remarkable stained glass window and some notable tiling, including an impressive mosaic above the main doors.
