£7.7 million council investment in York’s libraries

City of York Council is set to commit to a £7.7 million investment in the city’s libraries in a programme of city wide improvement.

The investment programme, delivered in partnership with Explore York Libraries and Archives, includes a new £5 million library learning centre for Clifton, a new permanent library for Haxby and Wigginton and capital investment in the Acomb Library learning centre.

The significant capital investment at Clifton will see library provision move to a new development on the former Clifton Without Junior School site on Rawcliffe Drive. The relocated Clifton facility will create a larger centre with co-located partners enhancing the offer to the local communities and delivering the vision of a community hub and learning centre.

Clifton’s new Library Learning Centre will increase the total facility size from 270 square metres to over 1400, incorporating a multi-purpose space holding 15,000 books, evening events, a Reading Cafe, a Children’s Library, and a community partner area.

Development of the site will include new safe and secure school access to Vale of York Academy. As the library does not require the whole site, there is a proposal to make 2,500 square metres of the site available for low carbon, 100 per cent affordable homes with a further consultation on those proposals set to take place early in 2022.

Darryl Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities, said: “This administration has been absolutely clear about our commitment to libraries in York. This £7.7 million total investment is the latest evidence that we intend to meet that commitment to secure the long-term future of these community facilities.

“Our library vision consultation identified residents’ key aspirations, ambitions and principles. They want Community Hubs, with partners present that link to community needs; they want to be able to access services on their doorstep, and they support a move away from standalone buildings to thriving, lively spaces with multiple activities and events and café facilities wherever possible.”