Bolton Central Library: Revamping work taking shape

The town’s central library will soon be able to reopen again, having been temporarily moved to Crompton Place while the historic Le Mans Crescent venue is being revamped as part of a £3.7 million project.

Bolton Council cabinet member for culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said he believed the work being carried out could be crucial not just for the historic library itself but for the rest of the town as well.

He said: “It’s going to be really exciting once the library has been upgraded and when all the improvements are finished.

The venue is expected to be able to reopen soon (Image: Bolton Library and Museum Services)

“When its reopened again its going to be one of the most up-to-date, improved facilities in the town centre and we really hope its going to encourage more visitors to come in.

“Hopefully they’ll then not only come to visit the library but also the other facilities we have around the town and also other businesses as well.”

The new spaces are taking shape (Image: Bolton Library and Museum Services)

Cllr Ayub, whose role includes libraries, museums and sporting events, said he hoped this could dovetail with other cultural offerings available in the town.

The redevelopment work was made possible after Bolton was awarded a slice of funding from the government’s “town’s fund”, which was intended to finance the redevelopment of town centres around the county.

The library's new ceiling (Image: Bolton Library and Museum Services)

After being unanimously approved by the council’s planning committee a proposal was first announced last Autumn to temporarily move the library services to Bolton town centre’s Crompton Place shopping centre while the refurbishment work took place.

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Books and other equipment were moved to what had once been a branch of New Look from September 2022, which has also hosted several of the library’s community and children’s events.

The museum and aquarium has been able to remain open as normal in that time.

So far several of the library’s new features are starting to take shape including a café space, a children and young people’s library, a mezzanine floor and a barrel ceiling with heritage decorations.

The newly upgrade central library is expected to open in the Autumn of this year.