Ambitious plans for Whitehaven’s new library and archive centre have been revealed.
An application has been lodged by the county council for the development on the site of the archive centre building on Scotch Street.
It would see the current library building on Lowther Street closed.
The plans would see Whitehaven Library, archives, registrars and community learning come together to deliver their services on one site as a new county council hub.
Works involve extending the existing property and some internal remodelling to provide a specialist space for customers.
The new facility will include a full range of library books, IT provision, community learning rooms, an archive and local studies research area, a specialist archive store and a dedicated space for autism and sensory resources.
There will also be a flexible space for new activities and community use.
The county council says the development will bring front-facing County Council services onto a single site for the benefit of customers.
If the plans are approved, work would begin in late 2019, and should be complete by summer 2020.
During that time the existing archive centre will be closed but local studies books and resources, including microfilm copies of family history sources, will be accessible in the library.
Archive discovery evenings will also be offered from the library instead.
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