Somercotes Library, based on the Somerlea Park Junior School campus on Bank Street, was temporarily closed last November due to building work taking place at the school.
While the new school premises is scheduled to be complete by this December, from next January to June 2027 contractors will be demolishing the existing school building, removing debris, bringing on site several hundred tonnes of topsoil and landscaping the demolition site.
As a result a decision was taken to keep Somercotes Library closed until June 2027 to avoid disruption to visitors and staff.
Library staff have now been able to secure a weekly slot in Somercotes Parish Council’s village hall in Nottingham Road for drop-in library sessions, with the first one starting on Thursday 23 April 2026 from 2pm to 4pm.
While it isn’t possible to offer a full service, people will still be able to order and return books, and there will be activities on offer including craft and coffee sessions for adults and story and rhyme times for children.
Other plans in place to mitigate the temporary closure of the library include extra opening hours at Pinxton Library, and increased activities at Pinxton and South Normanton libraries using staff who have temporarily relocated from Somercotes.
Council Leader Councillor Alan Graves said:
“While the library remains temporarily closed we are doing all we can to try to alleviate the inconvenience, and the weekly sessions will hopefully go some way to doing that, along with the extra opening hours already in place at Pinxton. We’re grateful to Somercotes Parish Council for accommodating us and hope people will find the sessions useful.’’
For more information contact South Normanton Library telephone: 01629 535000.