PART of the interior of Farnworth library is set to be converted to provide classrooms for university and school students which it is hoped will help to secure the long term survival of the building.

Farnworth Central Library is grade II listed and is part of a group of buildings, comprising the Baptist church and town hall that were designed, at the turn of the last century, by Bradshaw Gass and Hope, as a new civic centre.

Despite changes over the years the interior retains much of its original character, defined by the symmetry, downstand beams, heavy cornices and fine glazing bars of the dome.

Plans submitted to Bolton Council by their agents Robertson, detail a planned partition of part of the building.

A heritage report, lodged as part of the planning application to Bolton Council, states: “It is proposed that a new classroom area be created within the south west section of the reading room area, which is already partially defined by the partition to the stairwell.

“This is a natural location as there is a downstand beam above and it that the new partition can span to without impacting upon any of the decorative covings.

“The new partition will not be discernible from the library entrance or the entrance hall.”

Funding for the library was provided by Andrew Carnegie, the American Industrialist and philanthropist, originally from Scotland, who believed that ‘wealthy men were trustees of what they owned and should administer it to the benefit of the general public’.

The proposed changes to install the partition and screens have been designed to be completely reversible should a decision to be made in the future to revert back.

The report concludes: “The proposed creation of a discreet classroom within the volume of the existing library has been considered to ensure that it supports and restores the heritage significance in a number of ways.

“The classroom will support the promotion of ‘employment through education’ by providing a secure and dedicated area within the library for use by the university and colleges of the area.

“This is an underlying principle of the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie that led to the original procurement of the library.”

The proposal will be decided on by planners at Bolton Council at a date yet to be decided.