Library Hub Staines-upon-Thames opens Summer 2025
Local Community Hubs will be community spaces for all, providing public services, support and activities based on local needs, all under one roof.
- A local accessible and inclusive space for all members of the community
- Providing a mix of services provided by local District and Borough Councils and ÄûÃʵ¼°¹, in most cases housing a library provision, and in some cases offering services provided by other private sector organisations
- Alongside service provision there will be social spaces available for residents to meet and connect with others, or to simply sit and relax
- There are also areas available for community led activities to be run by community organisations and individuals.
The provision will be developed in a sympathetic way in discussion with stakeholders and service providers to ensure the space is as inclusive and accessible for as many different types of users as possible.
What work has been done to date?
Building work started in August 2024 and is due to finish in Summer 2025.
Located in the old Decathlon Building substantial building work has been done to make this modern community space an inclusive, accessible, welcoming space whether people want to visit to work, rest or play. Accessing local support and services in one place.
The hub will provide universal access for all residents through its programme of cultural activities and a focal point for supporting local people with health, wellbeing, employment and digital skills. As well as the key services, the hub will also provide multi-use space for use by third party and community groups.
Within the hub, there is a range of new spaces of different sizes, providing greater capacity for meetings and services, and even larger spaces available for exhibitions and performances. The design is dyslexia, dementia and autism friendly to ensure the hub is accessible for all.
What services will be in the Library Hub?
Organisations offering services within the Staines-upon-Thames Library Hub include:-
- Staines Library
- Citizen’s Advice
- Voluntary Support North ÄûÃʵ¼°¹
- Spelthorne Museum
- Registration services
Staines Library
Super Access technology will let library members visit their library during additional unstaffed hours and self-serve at a time that suits their busy lives whether they want to visit the library to work, borrow a book or study.
There are a range of different workspaces available for you to use - from a communal computer area, with bookable computers (PCs), to tables with integrated plug sockets to bring your own laptop.
Two private pods are available for hire for you to make private calls, conduct meetings and to work from. Wi-Fi is free. Or try one of the cosy window booths that provide a more private working environment.
The furniture within the hub has been integral ensuring the space meets the varying needs of users, whether it's to work, relax or meet up socially . You'll find a mix of seating including sofa's and chairs, cosy nooks, private meeting rooms and desks throughout the building. Ensuring that the new library is a comfortable and welcoming space.
Within the Library Hub flexible furniture - that's furniture that can easily be moved around - can be changed to make way for spacious entertainment, activity and event spaces for community groups to use. So that means anything from Yoga, dance performances or author events can be hosted. The choice is yours.
There will be areas available to host exhibitions and displays - reflecting current events and projects going on in the local area.
All these physical changes have been co-designed with different user graphics to make sure this community space meets the needs of it's local community.
For a period of two weeks the library will be closed while the library is moved to the new building. In the meantime the nearest alternative libraries will be Ashford, Egham, Stanwell and Sunbury. We will inform Library Members when the closure date is confirmed.
Voluntary Support North ÄûÃʵ¼°¹
Voluntary Support North ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ is a local independent charity committed to strengthening the voluntary and community sector across Spelthorne and the surrounding area. We support around 1,500 organisations, ensuring they have the resources, expertise, and volunteers needed to thrive.
Our work directly benefits local communities by helping groups access funding, recruit volunteers, and overcome challenges. Through tailored advice and practical support, we empower these organisations to grow, adapt, and continue delivering vital services that make a real difference in the lives of residents.
We are thrilled to be part of this new project. The new hub will not only allow us to collaborate more closely with local groups but also make us more accessible to the public. With increased visibility, we look forward to engaging with more residents and attracting additional volunteers to support the groups we work with.
Spelthorne Museum
We are delighted by this exciting opportunity to move to a new site even more centrally located in Staines than our current home. The advantages of being within the Library Hub in the Elmsleigh Centre and adjacent to the busy bus station will enable us to share the long history of the Spelthorne area with even more of the community.
Citizen's Advice
Citizen's Advice Runnymede and Spelthorne is a local independent charity which supports people to find a way forward, whatever their issue. We provide free, confidential and impartial advice on a huge range of issues, including debt and finance, housing and homelessness, employment, family, immigration, legal, consumer, benefits and health matters. As part of the national Citizens Advice network, we are supporting a record number of clients in Spelthorne, and demand for our service is increasing year on year with the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The move to the new Staines Hub will mean a larger, more modern office space for our dedicated team of volunteers and staff who provide advice and support to the Spelthorne community - allowing us more space to train additional volunteers so we can provide a wider range of services and increased number of pre-booked client appointments - ultimately supporting more people in need of our help. The Hub will place Citizens Advice in the heart of the community within Spelthorne alongside the library, museum and other charities, providing a fantastic resource of community services all under one roof.
Registration service
ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ provide Registration services for births and deaths, it’s important to us that we provide services in the heart of our communities and this new Library Hub allows us the opportunity to be present in more locations across ÄûÃʵ¼°¹, providing convenience for residents at these seminal moments in their lives. The space within the Library Hub where we will be located has been designed to be sympathetic to the needs of our customers who may be experiencing distress and upset. We are confident these new offices will offer the degree of privacy and respect for our customers.
Background information
ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Cabinet approval 27 June 2023