A £3.3 million transformation of Carlisle Library is set to get underway later this month.
Funded as part of the UK Government funded Carlisle Town Deal, the exciting project will enhance and improve the exist library, creating a state-of-the-art learning and community hub, delivering a wealth of modern facilities and services to meet the needs of today’s users.
Located on the first floor of The Lanes Shopping Centre, the library was originally opened in April 1986. Improvements planned include:
- The existing space is set for a complete overhaul, with structural work, rewiring, and infrastructure updates to accommodate new technology and facilities.
- The new library and hub are set to feature a children's zone, social space, adult learning classrooms, study spaces, and The Jackson Collection.
To prepare for the works to commence in late February this year, the library will close temporarily from end of day Saturday 25 January until the end of February, when a temporary library will reopen in part of the existing library. This will be a reduced offer, allowing the contractor to undertake the works on-site. This is an essential closure to prepare the site for construction, so we apologise for the inconvenience but please be assured, we will keep this closure to a minimum.
During February:
- Service points will be available at library links within Carlisle at Morton Manor Community Centre, Denton Holme Community Centre, Harraby Community Centre, Carlisle West, as well as Longtown Library and Brampton Library where you will have access to PC’s, book borrowing and WiFi.
- Requests can still be processed, and Cumberland Council’s digital library offer will remain available via the Borrowbox app.
- The Adult Learning service have relocated to the Civic Centre in Carlisle where normal services are available.
The Jackson Collection will be stored and unavailable until the completion of the project. During this time, library members will still have free access to family history websites, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, including as census records from 1841 to 1921, as well as digitised images from Carlisle Library’s local history collection via Cumbria Imagebank Home Page available online on library public computers.
For those seeking local history materials, a wealth of resources - including original archives, books, maps, and photographs related to Carlisle and North Cumbria - can be accessed by appointment at the Carlisle Archive Centre. For more details, please visit the website at www.cumberland.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/archives-centres-cumberland.
The reduced Carlisle Library offer will reopen on-site at the end of February and will be retained throughout the construction phase.
Updates on designs, contractor announcements, and service changes will be regularly posted on the Cumberland Libraries social media pages and the project website. FAQs and project information will also be frequently updated to ensure you have the latest details.
To contact the library team direct please email libraries@cumberland.gov.uk
