Public and private sectors join in £540,000 city library revamp

York Council joined forces with one of the city's biggest employers, Aviva, to finance a 540,000 scheme to transform the central library into a state-of-the-art Explore Centre.

The revamped facility will re-open on Monday and has 20,000 extra books, wi-fi Internet connections and learning rooms equipped with the latest technology.

There is also a caf, changing facilities for people with disabilities, self-service machines and a new media learning centre.

The council's executive member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, Coun Nigel Ayre, said: "The facility is now a highly advanced, world-class library that everyone in York will be able to benefit from and enjoy."

Aviva, which was previously known as Norwich Union, developed the partnership with York Council as part of a country-wide package of community projects.

The revamp of the central library, which closed on November 1 for the work to be carried out, is York's third Explore Centre. Other sites are at Acomb and New Earswick.