AFTER three years in the making, the new and improved Pershore Library has re-opened to the public following a £500,000 facelift.

The refurbished community building, which now also houses the library and visitor information centre, was officially opened by Pershore mayor Charles Tucker and chairman of Worcestershire County Council, Gordon Yarranton, on Monday.

It now boasts new features including a new conference suite, enhanced computer suite, reading room, children’s and teen area and a display area for local artists.

The library has been operating from Pershore Town Hall since April while the building in Church Street was upgraded and extended by Welsh contractor Oak-leys.

Pershore Town Council bought the library building from Worcestershire County Council in December 2011 after it was proposed the service was moved out of the town centre to the civic centre on Queen Elizabeth Drive to save money.

Coun Tucker said: “We’re very pleased by the way the project has worked out.

“We feel we have made a building that was tired and showing its age into an example of what’s best in the 21st century.”

Town councillor Chris Par-sons said it was a great day for Pershore.

“Three years ago we heard the library was going to move to the civic centre and taken away from the centre of town,” he said.

“There was a quite a strong feeling in Pershore that people wanted the library to remain in the town centre.

“The library that was going to disappear from the town centre is here in all its glory and much, much improved to that of 38 years ago.”

Emma Powell, library manager, said she was pleased with the new facility.

“It’s just a completely different type of space already, it’s a fantastic facility for the Pershore community,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”

Ruth Foster, literacy and reading manager at the county council, said: “It’s a great facility. It’s given us a lot more opportunity to develop the service for the future.

“There is adult learning and lots more activities for children. “We’re really proud of it.”