Timeline of your new Oxhey Library

Oxhey Library 2009

Hertfordshire Libraries

The Oxhey Community Library Big Lottery Fund project

By Beverley Small

2007

• Hertfordshire County Council was awarded £1.4 million from the Big Lottery Fund for Community Libraries to remodel and expand Oxhey Library

2008

• February and March - Greenheart Partnership consult with over 70 people in South Oxhey about their thoughts on libraries
• June - the South Oxhey Library Book is published and distributed to free to households in the local area
• 19th July – a community tea party in the library is held for residents to see the plans for the new library
• August – the library closes and staff moves the stock and service to a temporary building at 39 Oxhey Drive
• October – the refurbishment begins

2009

• August – The temporary library is shut while staff move the service back to the newly refurbished building
• 5th September – the Library is re-opened in Bridlington Road with over 800 visitors on the first day, offering an upgraded, more spacious and energy-efficient venue for a whole range of local activities
• 26th September – Children’s Fun Day
• September - Computer courses run by West Herts College and ASCEND begin in the IT Suite and Chatterbox Babies and Baby massage classes run by South Oxhey Children's Centre start in the Community Room
• October - Comic Masterclasses with Kev F from the Beano
• 21st October – Our Oxhey Tea Party
• 26th October – Grand Opening with comic poet John Hegley

2010

• January - West Herts College "Fast Track Your Future" course
• January - 14th Bushey and Oxhey Beavers use IT Suite to do their IT badges
• February - 7th Oxhey Methodist Guides hold meetings in the IT Suite
• 13th February - HAFLS Family Fun Day to promote adult and family learning
• 13th February - Shark Tales
• February - Three Rivers District Council play area consultation
• 6th March - Our Oxhey day with talk on the history of the golf course by Neil Hamilton
• March - Volunteer Centre workshops
• May - Adult Learners week activities including CV and Careers Advice from West Herts College, Grocery Shopping online, Brush up your IT skills and the Oxhey Quick Reads Book Group
• 10th June - Channel 4 film Chatterbox Tots for the 5 O'Clock Show
• 15th June - Health and Wellbeing Day 
• July - Three Rivers District Council play area consultation takes place
• July/August - Games Workshops for children
• 21st August - Vinvolved launch a Craft Group at the library
• 5th September - Happy Birthday Oxhey Library, a consultation takes place to ask the community what they thought of the project
• 16th September - Local author Steve Feasey comes to talk about his books for teenagers
• 18th September - Presentations of medals and certificates to children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge
• 22nd September - The Volunteer Centre run an Olympic Volunteer drop-in session
• 24th September - "Only on a Friday" book launch for South Oxhey Scribblers from ASCEND
• 27th September - Three Rivers District Council begin their Creative Writing Course
• October - NHS First Contact adviser offers advice and help in the library
• November - The launch of the IT Buddy scheme where a volunteer offers help with computer tasks.
• November - Carers in Herts run a beginners computer course in the IT Suite

2011

• January - Carers in Herts course on parenting a special needs child
• February - Oxhey Craft Group meet to make Valentine's Day hearts
• February - Oxhey U3A Family History Group visit the library for a talk on tracing your family history by local history librarian
• February and March - Oxhey Woods school visits from classes from Reception to Year 6
• 18th March - Tea Party to celebrate the launch of Our Oxhey community archive, followed by the AGM of the Oxhey Community Library Steering Group
• 25th March - Pottery exhibition 
• 6th October - ITea and biscuits party to celebrate Older People's Day and help them to Get Online
• 29th November - Health Matters day to provide information, advice and guidance for your health