New £17m library opens in town centre

A new library costing about £17m has opened in a Norfolk town centre.

The former Argos store was refitted and opened to the public on New Conduit Street in King's Lynn on Monday.

The old library was situated at the Carnegie Building which closed its doors after 121 years of operating.

Valerie Henry, 81, told the BBC: "I am impressed, although I must admit I was very reluctant to start with because Carnegie has great pull on you when you've been coming since a little tot."

The project was funded by Norfolk County Council and the government, in partnership with the King's Lynn Neighbourhood Board and the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Valerie, who lives in nearby South Wootton, said she was "amazed" when visiting the site for the first time, adding that the new location was "so central and easy for everyone to access".

Teresa Dignam, a librarian and information assistant, cut the ribbon to the building on Monday.

The 67-year-old, who served at the Carnegie for 36 years, said: "I was really sad to leave the old building, but you can see why we had to move.

"I think at the beginning there was a lot of negativity but you have only got to come and look at it really and see how brilliant it is."

Kerry Murray, head of library operations in west Norfolk, started her career at the old building and said it was "very hard work" moving all of the books.

"We really had the community in mind when we were thinking of the design for the library," she said.

"It is not just about books; it is what else the library brings.

"It is a sense of community, belonging and a place for people to come and be a part of something."

The county council said the building was sustainable, offered free wi-fi, bookable computers, as well as a space for children.

The upper floor of the three-storey building will provide adult learning facilities, including classrooms and a fully equipped training kitchen designed to support vocational courses.

The College of West Anglia took over the kitchen space to show people on opening day how the facilities worked.

Adam Burns, hospitality lecturer at the college, said: "People being able to cook well, and [to cook] fresh foods, is really important, so to have this space available to the community is very beneficial."

Alistair Beales, leader of the Independent Partnership which runs the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, said: "It is just the most wonderful space; more books, more space, and it is in the centre of the town."

Kay Mason Billig, the Conservative leader of Norfolk County Council, said: "This new library represents a major investment in King's Lynn and a truly historic moment for the town."

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.