York’s latest new library will open its doors to local residents for the first time in early January 2023.

The project – a partnership between the council, Explore York Library and Archives, and Haxby & Wigginton Youth & Community Association – will replace the old library in Haxby and Wigginton, which was closed in 2016 on the grounds of public safety.

The new Library for Haxby and Wigginton will open from Tuesday 3 January, once construction work to co-locate a permanent library at Oaken Grove Community Centre is completed.

The new library will be open six days a week and will include a new reading café, run by Explore, providing the community and customers visiting the centre with a place to relax and enjoy refreshments inside and outside.

Key features of the build include:

• a new extension to the community centre housing the new library and reading cafe at the front of the building and community rooms for hire to the rear
• a new large central entrance with improved storage space for pushchairs and buggies leading into a central café and seating area
• a children’s and adult’s library, with new shelving, nooks and crannies for children to explore and a separate area for teenagers
• free PCs available to book and 10,000 books to borrow
• a new kitchen to support the new reading café offering barista-style coffees, snacks
• an outdoor terrace area will provide a relaxing peaceful sanctuary to sit and read, enjoy a cup of coffee or meet up with friends
• extended free public Wi-Fi
• improvements to the fabric of the existing building, including a new roof which was found to be needed to secure the building for the long-term
• improved energy efficiency of the building with enhanced insulation, LED lighting throughout, and new aluminium double glazed windows to also enhance the building’s appearance and reduce future maintenance costs
• a new, more efficient heating system for the building
• refurbished toilets
• reconfiguration and refurbishment of the existing community rooms with new acoustic dividing walls to improve the flexibility of use, new floor coverings and decoration
• two newly-marked disabled bays in the car park
• new covered cycle shelter

Councillor Darryl Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities at City of York Council, said: I’m delighted that the construction has progressed well and we now have an opening date for the new venue.

“This initiative is an exciting collaboration. Through significant investment in a valued community building, we can put a library back at the heart of the local community, and support local residents of all ages to foster their love of lifelong learning. This is York once again bucking the trend – I’m immensely proud that we are a city opening libraries and investing in community spaces, not closing them.”

Sarah Garbacz, Chief Operating Officer for Explore York Libraries and Archives, said:We cannot wait to open our doors and welcome back our customers, old and new.

As well as a brand new reading café and more books, our fantastic programme of high quality family events and activities will return, from Rhymetimes for under 5s and Lego clubs for children, to craft clubs and author events for adults. It’s really great news to be back bringing the community of Haxby & Wigginton together.”

Lisa Wellington, Community Services Manager for Haxby & Wigginton Youth & Community Association at Oaken Grove, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Centre and thank our users for their patience during the closure. Our Youth Team will be resuming youth sessions in the new improved building and we are keen to relaunch our varied programme of activities.

“It is an important milestone in the life of HWYCA and Oaken Grove as we continue our partnership with Explore, and thank all those involved in bringing this exciting development to fruition.”