MAJOR refurbishment works to make Redditch Library a bigger, bright and friendlier place for its thousands of visitors are moving foward.

A range of improvements are planned to take place between now and next spring at the Worcestershire County Council library in Market Place, including a new quick pick section; a meeting space, which will have a new exhibition, meeting and gallery area; and a glass lift connecting all public floors.

There will also be four new public toilets - including baby change facilities on the ground floor and disabled facilities (ground and first floors); a new space for 13 to 18-year-olds; a completely redesigned children's library; and a 'read and relax' area on the ground floor, offering newspapers and a selection of reading materials from around the library.

Work on the refurbishment, costing just over £1 million, will be carried out in phases so the library can remain open as long as possible while the improvements are in progress.

For the majority of this period, at least one floor of the library will remain open to provide all the services visitors currently enjoy, but it will be necessary to close for short periods to enable services to be relocated within the building.

Visitors are being made aware that the library will be closed to the public from Monday, July 13 until Saturday, July 25. It will re-open on Monday, July 27.

Kathy Kirk, the county council's strategic libraries and learning manager, said: "This is a really exciting time for Redditch. We're moving ahead with a refurbishment that will give the town the bigger, brighter and better library service it deserves.

"Whilst we appreciate that the necessary closures are not convenient for our users, we're working hard to ensure we let people know well in advance of any closures and what alternative facilities are available."

Visitors are reminded that during the closures all other Worcestershire libraries will remain open as normal. Opening times and contact details for libraries can be viewed at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries.

Alternatively staff at Redditch can answer any queries about nearby libraries. For further information, call the library on 63291 or email RedditchLib@worcestershire.gov.uk.