Expanded temporary library unveiled at The Coro in Ulverston

The room has been transformed into a warm and welcoming space which can accommodate a larger number of books for the community.

Prior to this, there were separate temporary pop-up libraries in The Coro's Ante Room and the nearby Indoor Market Hall.

Inside the new temporary library (Image: Westmorland and Furness Council)

These have all now been moved to the Supper Room, a move preferred by service users who expressed a desire for a singular library location.

The Supper Room now houses 80 per cent of Ulverston’s most-borrowed or 'active' books.

Additionally, it also contains a dedicated and brightly decorated area for children's books.

Besides books, visitors can benefit from public access computers, a casual seating area, a coffee machine, and a ready team of library staff happy to provide support and advice.

One of the seating areas (Image: Westmorland and Furness Council)

The library is also highly accessible. The Coro's lift, which complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), has been fully serviced and repaired.

Westmorland and Furness Council’s interim Libraries and Archives manager, Mari Pearce said: "The Ulverston Library staff have worked incredibly hard to get this much larger and more comprehensive temporary library up and running in the Supper Room.

"It now offers almost all of our stock of the most popular titles for borrowing, a full children’s library section that is really colourful and welcoming and even has nice seating areas and a coffee machine."

Adding to the library's features, there will also be additional workspaces created for individuals who wish to use the space for home working or studying.

The children's library area (Image: Westmorland and Furness Council)

The Market Hall units will continue to be used as a meeting space for community groups - including the young people’s chess club and an advice and support group for Ukrainian refugees - whose members have indicated they would like to stay in the market for now.

The council is also discussing with the Repair Café group about using the Market Hall units for their activities.

The furniture and shelving in the Supper Room are fully flexible and movable.

A look at the children's library area (Image: Westmorland and Furness Council)

This means that the room remains available to hire for activities related to larger events and festivals that utilise several rooms at The Coro venue.

All these improvements, including the extension of library opening hours and facilitating its use by more community groups, became possible after the management of The Coro was taken over by the council on January 1, 2024.

The council has been conducting a detailed assessment to explore various options to reinstate a permanent library service in Ulverston.

Ensuring that these services are accessible, modern and 'fit for the future' is the primary goal.

The community will have a chance to comment on these proposals before any final decisions are made.