Scarborough library's new look designs to be shown for comments

The next stage of public engagement on the £450,000 revamp will begin next week

Author: Karen LiuPublished 14th Jun 2022

The next stage of public engagement on the £450,000 revamp of Scarborough library will begin next week.

The library has secured £200,000 through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports/Arts Council England Libraries Improvement Fund, which helps libraries upgrade their buildings and boost their digital offer. This grant, backed by a further £250,000 investment from North Yorkshire County Council, will be spent on reconfiguring the ground floor to create a brighter, more attractive space with areas for relaxation, study and to meet friends.

Hundreds of comments and suggestions were received during the first phase of consultation last month. Feedback covered accessibility, reading and study spaces, activities, exhibitions, meeting spaces, facilities for young people and much more. The designers have taken this feedback into account and their designs will be on display in the library later this month for further comment.

Cllr Greg White, executive member for libraries, said: “Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the planned refurbishment of Scarborough library. People have commented online as well as sharing their thoughts with our team both in the library and at sessions in the Brunswick Centre and at Sainsbury’s.

“Hearing what both customers and people who do not use the library think has been valuable to give us a picture of the sort of library that the community wants and needs.”

The plans will be available to view and comment on in the library from 9am on Monday 20th June until 3pm on Thursday 7th. Members of the library management team will be available to discuss the plans on:

• Monday, June 20, 9am to noon

• Thursday, June 30, 5pm to 7pm

• Saturday, July 2, 10am to noon (please note date change from June 25)

• Thursday, July 7, 1pm to 3pm

Work on the project could begin in spring 2023. Through a planned maintenance programme, £350,000 has already been invested in improving the fabric of the building, including a new heating system as part of the county council’s zero carbon ambitions.

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