Bensheim in transition: the city library is fighting for survival!

Bensheim in transition: the city library is fighting for survival!

The Bensheim City Library is once again the focus of change and uncertainty. In a dramatic turn of events, the city council decided to terminate the rental agreement for the previous temporary location at Schwanheimer Straße 151, meaning the library is preparing to move to the Alte Gerberei. According to current plans, this new home is scheduled to be renovated and opened by summer 2025, but this will be associated with significant challenges, such as: Bergsträßer Anzeiger reported.

The old tannery will become the sole interim solution for the city library, which requires adjustments to the concept. In the future, the library's collection will be limited to only around 10,000 items, a fraction of the existing 37,000. According to the decision of the city council, no further locations are planned. The additional media will have to be stored in depots, and accessibility will also be a challenge. Loud bensheim.de The renovation is necessary to make the old tannery fit for library operations, which requires intensive planning.

In addition to the closure of the main library, the city has set up a “pop-up library” in the Parktheater that allows residents to borrow from a reduced selection of 250 items. However, this provisional offer can hardly cover the needs created by the closure of the main library. The return deadline for borrowed media has been extended until August 31, 2025 to allow users to deal with the situation flexibly.