How new £3.7m Bolton central library will look with new cafe and mezzanine floor for meet-ups

Spectacular images have been released of how Bolton central library is set to look after a £3.7m refurbishment.

Bolton Council has revealed the concept images of the new building, which will be closed for the next 12 months as work progresses.

The refurbishment will include a café, expansion and upgrade of the children’s area, improved social spaces, updated digital facilities and the addition of a mezzanine floor. A temporary library at the former New Look unit in Crompton Place will open on Monday 26 September.

Bolton Council said the designs of the new library focus on the priorities of the customers’ needs including digital facilities, education and employment information, cultural and creative activities and health and wellbeing. The council said book borrowing and promoting reading remains a core priority of the library, however the refurbishment will help to change how communities use libraries, such as taking part in creative activities, accessing the internet and using digital equipment.

The new mezzanine floor will provide a welcoming space for a variety of community and wellbeing groups to use and for different groups who visit the building. Areas will also be dedicated to studying and using information resources.

The flexibility of the new central library plaza space will provide event opportunities for a wide variety of organisations and companies to use it for performances, author events and storytelling. A new children and young people’s library space will be created and split into three areas.

The first section will be for under fives with a dedicated area for play and exploration. The second and third spaces will be for older children and young people to develop their experience and joy of reading.

Leader of the council, Coun Martyn Cox said: “The library will become a new and exciting creative hub with facilities and event space to attract more visitors to Bolton, as well as benefiting our residents. The spaces have been designed to complement the heritage of the Le Mans Crescent building and at the same time making it easier for staff to interact with visitors and vice versa.”

At the temporary library at Crompton Place a welcome coffee morning will take place on Monday 26 September between 10am and 12pm. It will also be an opportunity for visitors to share their comments about the latest design images of the refurbishment project.

Opening hours at Crompton Place will be, Monday: 9am-5.30pm, Tuesday: 9am-5.30pm, Wednesday: 9.30am-5.30pm, Thursday: 9am-5.30pm, Friday: 9am-5.30pm, Saturday: 9am-5pm and Sunday: 10.30am-4.30pm. Bolton Museum and Aquarium will remain open as normal, apart from Sundays when opening times will be 10.30am to 4.30pm.

All other Bolton libraries are open as usual.