Wantage Library on Stirlings Road shuts at 4.30pm on Saturday 2 January for a refit and reopens in late spring, with a pop-up library in the annex meanwhile. Here is what is changing and what stays open.
Wantage Library will close at 4.30pm on Saturday 2 January 2027 for a major refurbishment, and is expected to reopen in late spring. A pop-up library will run in the building’s annex while the work goes on, Oxfordshire County Council said on 5 November (Oxfordshire County Council).
The library on Stirlings Road turns 35 in 2027. The council says the refit is meant to help it “meet the needs of Wantage’s growing population”.
What is changing
The council lists these changes:
- a new children’s area
- moveable shelving, to clear space for larger events
- new books
- dedicated spaces to work and study
- new windows and doors, to improve insulation, cut running costs and reduce carbon emissions
It follows a new heating system and solar panels fitted earlier this year, which the council says will reduce the building’s reliance on electricity from the grid.
The council describes the layout changes as “proposed”, so the final design may differ.
Who is paying
The building work is supported by central government decarbonisation funding. The library improvements themselves are paid for by contributions from local developers, the council says. It has not published the cost of either.
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said:
Wantage Library is a place where people can discover books, study, meet others and take part in community events. This refurbishment will create a more welcoming and flexible space, with more opportunities for residents to enjoy everything their library has to offer.
What it means for you
Until 2 January, nothing changes. The library’s own page gives its hours as:
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9am to 8pm |
| Tuesday and Wednesday | 9am to 5.30pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 1pm |
| Friday | 9am to 8pm |
| Saturday | 9am to 4.30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
It is closed on bank holidays, so allow for Christmas and New Year when planning a last visit before the closure.
From 2 January to late spring, use the pop-up library in the library annex, a space Thames Valley Police used to occupy. The council says it will offer books, computers, printing and other services, including bus pass validation. It has not yet given the pop-up’s opening hours.
If you go to a regular group, such as Storytime, the Saturday Craft Club, Stay and Play or the Digital Helper sessions, check with the library whether it will move to the annex. The council has not said which events will continue during the closure.
The library is at Stirlings Road, Wantage, OX12 7BB, and its phone number is 01865 815197. The Waitrose car park is a two-minute walk away; for charges at the council car parks nearby, see parking in Abingdon and the Vale.
Sources: Wantage Library set for major refurbishment, Oxfordshire County Council, 5 November 2026; Wantage Library, Oxfordshire County Council. Both checked 6 November 2026.
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