Taunton Library has marked a major milestone, celebrating 30 years since opening its doors on Paul Street, with staff, residents and partners coming together to reflect on three decades of learning, connection and community spirit.
To celebrate the milestone, Councillor Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council (and a former Taunton Library employee) and the
Mayor of Taunton, Councillor Martin Straus joined library staff, partners and community members to reflect on the past, present and future of this much-loved local service.
The special guests judged a children’s Lego-build competition and were able to view an exhibition of pictures and memorabilia showing the history of the library.
Guests enjoyed coffee and cake kindly supplied by the Friends of Taunton Library, recognising the vital role the group continues to play in supporting the library and its community activities.
Cllr Revans said:
“Libraries are at the heart of our communities, and Taunton Library’s 30-year journey on Paul Street shows just how important these spaces are. It’s inspiring to see how the library has grown from its early days of microfiche readers and CD collections into a vibrant hub supporting health, learning and wellbeing for residents of all ages.”
The anniversary celebrates not only the building’s history, but the people who have shaped it since February 1996, when the library relocated from Corporation Street in a remarkable community effort that saw staff and volunteers transporting books through the streets of Taunton.
The original move was completed in just one week, with staff and volunteers wheeling books through the streets on wooden trolleys, packing and unpacking hundreds of boxes, and even inviting customers to borrow more books than usual to lighten the load.
On opening day, local schoolchildren carried books to the new building, balloons were released, and live jazz filled the air.
Thirty years on, Taunton Library continues to evolve as a modern, welcoming community hub, offering far more than book borrowing. Today, the library provides free access to technology, health and wellbeing support, a packed programme of activities for all ages, a café run by Young Somerset, and the Somerset Independent Living Centre, all under one roof.
Visitors today can access free Wi-Fi, public computers and a wide range of items to borrow, from iPads and fitness trackers to blood pressure monitors and thermal imaging cameras. The library’s dedicated wellbeing area hosts NHS health checks, low-impact activity sessions and support for families, alongside a packed programme of events including storytimes, creative writing groups, gaming sessions, poetry, tech help and the Taunton Literary Festival.
The building also houses a café run by Young Somerset and the Somerset Independent Living Centre, offering advice and resources to help people live independently.
Taunton Library remains open to everyone, a warm, welcoming space where people can learn, relax and connect, just as it has done for the past 30 years.
The café within Taunton Library, run by Young Somerset, has also been selected as the Mayor’s nominated charity for the
year, highlighting its valuable contribution to the community and its ongoing support for local residents.
