Thurcroft’s library and neighbourhood hub has reopened in style following an extensive refresh of facilities.

The brand-new library hosted a variety of exciting events for young and older readers with a ribbon cutting ceremony taking place in the afternoon of Tuesday 28 November 2023.

Members of the public, the parish council and ward councillors from Rotherham Council attended the ceremony to celebrate this impressive milestone which has been funded through the Council’s Library Capital Improvement Programme. The Parish Council also contributed funding to the new library.

Thurcroft is the latest library to receive investment as part of the Council’s commitment to improve every library across the borough.

The library was formerly located on the grounds of Thurcroft Junior Academy but has now been moved to a fantastic new building adjoining the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, just a short distance from its original location, that will help to increase access and footfall.

With the new build, it will improve accessibility and provide more opportunities for people to benefit from the library and its services whilst also providing a new flexible space for activities and events.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Cllr David Sheppard, said: “Libraries are vital for our communities and offer so much more than lending books. They offer a place to meet, a place to get involved with new activities and a place to access services, so they need to change and adapt to meet the needs of the residents. Being here today as we open this new library showcases just how important it is for us to invest in our public services and spaces, as well as the Council’s commitment to investing in our neighbourhoods.”

Inside, the space has been freshly decorated with the furniture being supplied by library furniture specialist, Opening the Book.

Labour is investing in the centre of Thurcroft as part of its Towns and Villages Fund which, alongside the new library, is making a visible improvement in the community.

Labour’s Towns and Villages Fund is a multi-million pound commitment from the Council to deliver improvements to town and village centres across the borough.