WARRINGTON’S museum and town centre library is to close for two weeks ahead of renovation works.

The building will shut on Saturday, August 31, and reopen on Saturday, September 14.

Work will include redecorating the library, creating new activity spaces, improving the entrance, relocating the library counter, creating space for exhibitions and pop-up cafes in the library and improving signs and branding.

When it reopens, it will be open to public from Wednesdays to Sundays while on Mondays and Tuesdays the building will be used exclusively for private bookings to cope with increasing demand from the town’s schools and wider community groups, as well as corporate use.

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Any items borrowed from Monday, August 12 have had an extended loan period until the library reopens. During the closure period members can return, renew or borrow books at any other LiveWire library as normal.

Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure, at Warrington Borough Council, said: “The work on the museum and library is part of our wider work to make our libraries more sustainable.

“The improvements and changes made to the building will help us cater to the various different groups and residents that use the facilities, making the museum and library even more enjoyable to visit.

“We’re very proud of our libraries and the work that goes in to keeping them exciting and accessible for all.”

Emma Hutchinson, managing director of LiveWire and Culture Warrington, said: “We’re committed to delivering an integrated new hub of creativity and learning; a place that truly celebrates the rich heritage we have here in Warrington and that inspires learning for all ages.

“We believe the changes being implemented next month are realistic and sustainable – while allowing us to try to broaden the accessibility of the museum and library, and attract more people of a weekend, which is going to be crucial as the town centre continues to develop.

“We believe these changes are the best way for the future direction of the building and services, but we will of course be monitoring closely, and reviewing regularly

“The stakeholder and public engagement sessions showed us just how many groups and people are passionate about the building and the treasures housed within it, and the services it offers – which was really gratifying to see..”

The intention is to also create a new ‘Friends of Warrington Museum and Library’ group to support wider programming; boost the current education provision for the town’s schools; and improve the flow of library stock throughout the whole building, including special collections aligned to the calendar of museum, arts and creative activities.