Thanks to £1.8 million in Big Lottery funding, our new look Luton Central Library reopened on Monday, 20th April.  But the revamped library isn’t just about books.

Look out for activities such as Time for a Rhyme in the new under 5s area and the Homework Club in the larger children’s library on the ground floor.  Fifteen Plus is another new area, with a music and DVD collection ranging from Hollywood to Bollywood. 

If you’re in a hurry, visit the improved quick choice book section, try out the new self service kiosks to speed up queuing and visit the new IT section for quick emails and internet access. 

To work quietly without distractions, visit the new study and IT area on the second floor.  There are lots of PCs and even secure lockers to store your bags.  Don’t miss the family history and local studies area where you can use the internet, search family history records or check records on CD-Rom.

If your eyes aren’t as good as they were or you have a visual impairment, visit the new area on the first floor run in partnership with Sight Concern and stocked with large print books and audio.

Want to learn a new skill, take up a hobby or improve your work prospects?  Get back into learning with free taster sessions and a wide range of courses.  The new Learning Centre offers learning opportunities for adults and children ranging from numeracy and language studies to reflexology and sugar modelling.  Courses may be booked through Luton Adult Community Learning based at Lea Manor - for details call 01582 490333 or click on the link below.

The Exchange Group on the Gallery floor also offers LearnDirect online courses from using basic computers to advanced presentation and spreadsheets - ask staff for details or call 01582 876945.

The new Empress Café on the third floor offers light refreshments including cakes, paninis and baked potatoes, with books and magazines for browsing.

You don’t even have to be a library member to hire one of the five meeting rooms for 2-100 people with catering - for details visit their website by clicking on the link below or call 01582 547404.

Jean George, Director of Luton Libraries for Luton Cultural Services Trust, said:  “The Central Library has been improved to offer modern facilities to make your visit more comfortable.  With a café and a range of courses and activities for everyone, we hope you’ll find lots of new things to do and you’ll want to stay with us that bit longer.”