Carlisle Library's recent £3.3 million transformation has led to Cumberland Council calling on local residents to help them understand what more can be done to get people using their services.
The new modern library is home to new vibrant spaces and improved technology for visitors.
The improvement work has been underway since spring 2025 and not only centered around an enhanced experience for users, it also involved substantial structural improvements, rewiring and upgrades to heating, lighting, security, fire safety and other building systems.
The refurbishment includes:
A new children's area, with books and digital resources.
Comfortable social spaces where people can meet and relax.
Adult learning classrooms for digital literacy, skills development and workshops.
Modern study areas with individual desks, charging points and digital facilities.
Improved technology and infrastructure.
A permanent home for the historic Jackson Collection.
This is intended to make the library more than somewhere people borrow books. It is being developed as a place for learning, accessing services, meeting others and participating in community activities.
The project forms part of Carlisle's wider £19.7 million Town Deal investment programme, which aims to regenerate the city and support its long-term economic and social development.
The library needed significant investment in its infrastructure, but the ambition went further than repairing and modernising the building.
The intention is to respond to changing needs in the community, particularly:
Providing access to computers, technology and digital services.
Helping adults develop skills and improve employment opportunities.
Supporting children and families with reading and learning.
Providing welcoming spaces for people to meet and socialise.
Making learning and community activities accessible to a wider range of people.
Cumberland Council describes the project as creating a library fit for the future.
At the official opening in October, a new room was unveiled and named the M.W. Craven Room, in recognition of Carlisle-born crime writer M.W. Craven who was awarded Cumbrian of the Year at the Cumbria Life Awards 2026. This prestigious award recognises his status as a beloved, best-selling author in the region.
He attended the opening ceremony and spoke about the importance of libraries, reading and creativity. The room is intended to provide a lasting tribute to his contribution to literature and inspire future generations of readers and writers.
After all, who doesn’t love a library?
All those books to chose from, helpful librarians, computer access, clubs and activities for all ages.
They provide free access to knowledge, support for education, community and social connection, as well as up-to-date technology alongside cultural and literary heritage.
They are safe, inclusive spaces where lifelong learning takes place. Many a rich and famous celebrity has acknowledged the part a library has paid in their success, with an absolute understanding that they would never have achieved what they have without the access to books and services their local library provided.
Why, then, are so many closing down? Approximately 125 libraries have physically closed in England since 2016. Communities in the most deprived deciles are four times more likely to have lost a publicly-funded library in the last decade.
Until Monday 30th November 2026, Cumberland Council are inviting local people to have their say regarding library services in Seaton, near Workington, to develop understanding of what could encourage more people to use them.
If you have anything to contribute relating to:
how people currently use library services
what people value most
what could encourage more people to use the library
views about opening hours, services, facilities and activities
how the library could work more closely with the community and other local organisations
You can share your views by completing the online survey, requesting a paper copy of the survey, or attending a drop-in session.
