Cumberland Council is pleased to announce that Carlisle Library will reopen its doors Monday 3 March, welcoming visitors back while construction work continues.
During this phase, the first floor will be open to the public, featuring a fantastic fiction section, while the second floor remains closed for refurbishment. The council reminds visitors that construction will continue for the next 10–12 months, and some noise and disruption should be expected.
This transformative project, funded from the UK Government’s Carlisle Town Deal with additional investment from Cumberland Council, aims to revitalise Carlisle Library state-of-the-art learning and community hub. Designed to meet the needs of modern users, the upgraded library will offer cutting-edge facilities and services.
This project is part of Carlisle’s £19.7 million Town Deal Investment Plan, which also supports other key initiatives like the Carlisle Southern Gateway improvements and enhancements at Tullie. Together, these projects reflect a shared commitment to Carlisle’s growth and vitality.
Requests will continue to be processed, and the Borrowbox app and other digital library services will remain available. The Adult Learning Service has relocated to the Civic Centre in Carlisle, where normal services will continue. Family history resources, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, as well as digital archives from Carlisle Library’s local history collection, will still be available through public library computers. For local history materials, the Carlisle Archive Centre remains open by appointment and offers a wealth of original archives, books, maps, and photographs. For more details about the Archives services, please visit the Cumberland Council website.
The project includes a complete overhaul of the library, with structural work, rewiring, and infrastructure updates to support modern technology. Planned features include a children’s zone, social spaces, adult learning classrooms, study areas, and a display for The Jackson Collection.
For more information about this project, please visit Cumberland Council’s website.