Representatives from local community groups have given the thumbs up to plans to transform Truro Library into a beacon of 21st Century community learning.

More than 40 guests were able to see for themselves how the library will look and hear details of the improved and extended facilities that will be on offer following a ten month project due to start next month.

They toured the building and viewed artist’s impressions of how all three floors of the Grade II listed building will be used following extensive consultation within the community to identify the kind of facilities they would like to see including expanded lending areas, multifunctional community rooms and ICT suites with digital editing equipment.

Big Lottery funding of over £1.4 million has been secured for the project.

When completed, the façade of the Grade II listed historic building will remain largely the same but inside there will be improved library facilities, especially for children a new style Reference Library providing improved support for all libraries in Cornwall community meeting rooms which will be available for hire to community groups, businesses and organisations an expanded fully equipped, open access IT suite a facility for small businesses offering internet access and office services a quick access internet lounge state of the art video and music editing facilities a café.

The plan to completely refurbish and upgrade the Library is underpinned by a groundbreaking initiative to directly involve the local community in the management of the new and improved facilities.

Representatives from local community groups are shortly to be invited to be part of the Truro Community Library Management Board which will include library members and representatives of community groups who will help plan the services to be delivered in the building.

Community Engagement Officer, Ian Banks said: “This event has been extremely useful in giving representatives from local residents associations and schools the opportunity to see the plans and give us feedback and suggestions on how those plans can be improved. We have had some really practical and useful ideas put forward which we will be examining and discussing further.”

Truro Community Library will be fully accessible to all customers and, by developing the space available in the currently unused upper floors of the building, the floor area of the library will be significantly increased.

Cornwall’s Head of Library Service, Chris Ramsey said: “I was really encouraged by how enthusiastic representatives from the community were about our proposals. We want to continue to talk to them over the next few months as we design the services to be delivered from the Community Library and hope that some will come forward to join the Community Library Management Board.”

The Library will remain open during the building works which will take up to 10 months to complete. Whilst there will inevitably be some disruption, library staff are committed to doing their best to minimise inconvenience to all customers.