Open Day fun at Huddersfield Library whilst cabinet moves on new build under Our Cultural Heart plans
Huddersfield Library has organised an Open Day to welcome visitors to its new spaces in the town centre.
The library has welcomed over 30,000 visitors since moving and the public are now invited to take part in fun activities on Saturday 24 June 10am-3pm across both temporary library locations.
The team moved out of the Grade II Listed former library building as part of the plans for Our Cultural Heart that will see a new, modern community library open in Winter 2025/6 as part of phase one of the project. Alongside the library will be a vibrant new food hall, both located in the Grade II Listed former Queensgate Market Hall, and an outdoor events space. Cabinet will discuss the release of further funds for the next stage of the landmark regeneration programme at a meeting next week.
What’s happening on the day?
Open Day activities this weekend include Create a Bag for Life event, Storytime sessions for children up to the age of five years and Chess club in the Customer Services Centre on Market Street. Over at Victoria Lane visitors can meet the Local Studies Library team who offer support in local and family history and peruse maps, books, photographs and newspapers relating to Kirklees. Visitors can also go on a walk with Discover Huddersfield whilst Kirklees Transcription Service will be demonstrating equipment they have to support people with a visual impairment.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration said:
“We started our exciting journey earlier this year when libraries moved out of their old building as part of Our Cultural Heart plans to redevelop Huddersfield town centre. I am delighted that the team can now formally mark the opening of their temporary spaces with this family Open Day.
“Our Cultural Heart plans will soon move into delivery phase, and we’re excited about the new and modern library that will be part of this. In the meantime, I would encourage everyone to visit the open day to take a peek into their family history, get some expert advice for people with visual impairments or just have some fun.”
West Yorkshire Archive Service
West Yorkshire Archive Service Kirklees is sharing space at Victoria Lane and will be offering the public a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the archive service and explore newly discovered treasures from the Kirklees collections. Visitors can also speak to professional archivists for those key research projects.