A new, purpose-built community library in Beswick, east Manchester opens its doors on Monday 13 September.

Located just inside the glass-fronted building on Grey Mare Lane, which also houses the £31.5million East Manchester Academy, this brand new public library will be open seven days a week and is free for everyone to join and visit.

The library contains hundreds of new books, more than 20 state-of-the-art computers, DVDs, audio books, newspapers and magazines all situated in a purpose-built environment for the local community to enjoy.


Other services include a self-issue terminal to make borrowing quicker, a homework club for the over 8s, story telling sessions for younger children and meeting rooms available for hire by community groups. Library members can also make use of the 'Overdrive' service where books can be downloaded straight to laptops, MP3 players and e-readers from the comfort of their own homes.

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council's assistant executive member for culture and leisure said: "Manchester is bucking the national trend when it comes to libraries, with membership as popular as ever. The brand new Beswick Library will be a tremendous asset to the local community and with a whole host of new services sitting alongside traditional book lending, it offers a library that is bang up-to-date and relevant to everyone."

(CD/KMcA)