BCP Council has issued a progress update on work at Charminster Library in Bournemouth, Dorset, after a partial ceiling collapse that has kept the building closed since 22 December 2025. The update, published on 6 February 2026, confirms the building remains closed while major structural and safety work continues.
Structural engineers have been on site since January 2026 carrying out stabilisation work and overseeing asbestos remediation after asbestos was discovered during inspections. Repairs are focused on affected ceiling joists and structural joints. While the main hall remains closed, temporary access arrangements — a click-and-collect-style service at the library entrance for reserved items — are in place to reduce disruption to users.
Cllr Andy Martin, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Customer, Communications and Culture, said: “The safety of visitors and staff is the priority and the library cannot reopen until essential work is completed.” Officials had previously targeted a February 2026 reopening, but the discovery of asbestos and the need for joist repairs mean that timescales are now uncertain.
Charminster is one of three BCP libraries (along with Springbourne and Southbourne) that the council’s Library Strategy flagged as requiring the most significant urgent repairs, part of an identified maintenance backlog of around £1.8m. While work continues at Charminster, residents can use other local branches or return items to any branch in the LibrariesWest network.
BCP Council have pledged to share further updates as repair work progresses.
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