Date set for reopening of Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library following £1.3m refurbishment

The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library will reopen to the public at 10am on Wednesday 29 July, following a major refurbishment. 

Located in The Forum, the Millennium Library is one of the busiest public libraries in the UK and is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year. The work will help to transform the experience for the one million people who visit the library each year. 

Councillor Pat Gould, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for countryside, coast and culture, said: 

"We should be really proud that the Millennium Library is one of the busiest and most-loved libraries in the country - and this refurbishment will help it to stay that way. 

"The team have improved the library for everyone. Young children can discover a love of reading, more students can study for their exams, and older residents can come together and explore their interests." 

"This refurbishment has been shaped by the people who use the library and that's exactly how we should be approaching these projects." 

The improvements include a new bookshop-style entrance to make browsing easier, increased study space, a redesigned river-themed early years library, dedicated new areas for children aged 8+ and teenagers, improved accessibility, enhanced lighting and furniture, integrated power and USB charging points, and a new gathering space for events and talks. 

The library temporarily closed earlier this year to allow the refurbishment to be completed safely and quickly. 

During the closure, a temporary pop-up library in The Forum has allowed city centre visitors to the to continue accessing the library service. This space has proved popular, with over 20,000 items borrowed since it opened just 2 months ago. 

The pop-up library will close on Friday 24 July to allow books and equipment to be moved back in preparation for the reopening of the main library.