A SWINDON library that has been stuck in a temporary building for 30 years has finally been moved to a permanent home.

But it is not the Central Library which is on the move it's a much smaller one in Even Swindon.

In a situation that echoes the Central Library's history, the Even Swindon Library was moved from another temporary building to a portable cabin near Even Swindon Infant School in Hughes Street.

There it remained for 30 years, but it has now moved to the Even Swindon Community Centre in Jennings Street.

The new library is near the home of council Leader Kevin Small (Lab, Western), who has promised Swindon-ians a brand new central library, to be paid for by part of the planned 15 per cent council tax rise.

More than 20 years ago, there were suggestions that the Even Swindon Library move the service to the community centre. But it was not until the building began to suffer the effects of damp that the council acted.

Library manager Sarah Checksfield said: "The building became unwell. It got damp and one of the sides started to swell. When I touched it I put my thumb through it.

"The council was thinking of closing it and replacing it with a mobile service, but it was decided that we would move to a new home at the Even Swindon Community Centre.

"Some of our users were unhappy because the new library is further from their homes, but the majority were happy with the new site.

"I think the new venue will be popular because there are people who already use the community centre for lunches and events or recycling, and the more people that use us the more books we will be able to bring in."

In its new location, the Even Swindon Library has 4,000 books and is open from 10am to 12.30pm on Mondays, 2pm to 4.30pm on Wednes-days and 2pm to 7pm on Thursdays.

Its telephone number is still Swindon 483103.