Grant funding has been secured by a North Yorkshire library to modernise its space and provide better services for local people.
Scarborough Library has secured £450,000 in funding which will enable them to completely revamp the building and modernise their facilities.
The improvements come after the library invited hundreds of comments and suggestions for a new layout and what services were required by local people and partner organisations.
Read more: Library temporarily closing to reduce council's carbon footprint
Among the updates the children's library will move to the front of the building to a larger, brighter area with better facilities for children and families. There'll also be a new IT area as well as a community exhibition space and device charging points along with completely redecorating and carpeting the building.
Funding was also set aside for the purchase of new books ready for the library's re-opening.
£250,000 of the funding has come from North Yorkshire County Council, while the remaining £200,000 has been granted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports/Arts Council England Libraries Improvement Fund.
Plans for the reconfigured, brighter space are currently on display at the library.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White, said: “I am very excited about these improvements at Scarborough library. The changes will result in a welcoming, modern space that meets the changing needs of the community.
“By creating more flexible areas, we can look forward to working more closely with a range of partners to deliver activities to benefit local people. Scarborough library currently attracts more than 10,000 visits every month and I am confident that the improvements will result in it welcoming many more people.”
Although the library will be closed between February 18 and May 22, customers will be able to borrow additional books to cover the closure period and arrangements have been made to cover home library service deliveries.
People needing to access essential services online will be able to use two dedicated computers at the Customer First centre on St Nicolas Street.
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The nearest facilities for people wanting to visit a library during the closure are Newby and Scalby, More Than Books at Eastfield and Derwent Valley Bridge in Ayton. Details of opening times can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries The mobile library will also visit Aberdeen Walk on Mondays, excluding bank holidays, between 2pm and 4pm during the closure period.
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