Peeps into the Past: The story continues as Bordon library marks 40 years

A memorable chapter in Bordon’s history was recently celebrated as people came together to mark the library’s ruby anniversary.

Cake was served and ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung on July 14 as staff and users marked the 40 years of the library in the Forest Centre.

The £350,000 library was hailed as the most modern in Hampshire when it opened in 1986, replacing a mobile service that served the town for the previous 11 years.

The “striking” building with its high ceiling and interior arches was designed to resemble a basilica and was award-winning with fans including HRH Prince Charles.

It wasn’t just the architecture which impressed as the much-needed facility also boasted the “latest computerised book issue system” and an “experimental book indexing system”. Its 25,000 books were categorised by symbols and colour codes in a method devised by Petersfield-area librarian, Des Farnham.

Hampshire County Council chairman Maurice Jones was presented with an Ascot Race Card from 1884 which had belonged to Czar Nicholas after cutting the tape.

"When I first came here some years ago to look at a site for a library there was not a single brick on this spot,” said Cllr Jones, who was also given a newly-published book on Hampshire by local author, Philippa Stevens.

"Now we have this first-class library in a thriving centre which I hope will not only be used by the people of Bordon and Whitehill for pleasure and to increase their knowledge, but by people from outside the area as well.”

While the library’s hours may have been reduced over the years, it remains a “special place” and vitally important part of the community with its plethora of activities, programmes and initiatives for all ages.

And books and its wonderful staff remain at the heart, and that, dear reader, is a fact.