BOOK lovers are “devastated” that Colchester Library is closing for a year for refurbishment.

Bosses at Essex County Council have announced the library will temporarily close from September 2 to summer 2025.

The centrepiece of the refurbishment will be the new Children’s Imagination and Literacy Centre on the ground floor, which will be an interactive play space with equipment and fun materials for learning.

The library, which has around 12,600 active members, will be redecorated and get new furniture with energy-saving lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.

Closed- Colchester Library will close from September 2 to summer 2025. (Image: Newsquest)

While the Trinity Square library undergoes these works, other libraries in the area—Greenstead, Prettygate, and Wivenhoe—will extend their opening hours to compensate.

A mobile library will visit Colchester High Street during the closure period on Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm and Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm.

Library users have expressed disappointment and concerns about the closure.

Darien McCormack, who frequently visits the library in her wheelchair, said: “I’m devastated. The library is my lifeline.

“I read an awful lot, and it is an affordable way to read as much as I do.

“I enjoy the social chatter about books with staff.”

She said a lot of people study upstairs and use the computers, and that many people use the library as a warm space in the winter.

Important- The library has become an important space for many members of the community. (Image: Other)

Darien continued: “I cannot get to the other libraries, and the mobile library will not be wheelchair accessible or have anywhere near the selection of books the library offers.

“It also has the only changing room and large disabled toilet with a hoist in town.

“There are a lot of people who are going to be affected by this.

“I don’t think they have thought through how many services are going to be cut off.”

Many library users have expressed confusion about the duration of the work, and how accessible the other libraries in the area are.

What is changing at the library?

The Children’s Imagination and Literacy Centre is being partly funded by £337,500 from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England’s libraries improvement fund.

The new area will be situated on the ground floor where the escalator is set to be removed.

The registration service, currently on the ground floor, will move to the first floor.

The space will "better connect" the children’s library, sensory bay, and literacy area and will feature interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) equipment.

It will house materials for learning, including staging for plays, talks, video making and language skills, as well as offering interaction engaging the senses.

Equipment will include augmented reality mirrors, a bubble screen, infinity mirrors and specialist LED lighting, whilst the centre will have a Roman theme to fit Colchester’s history.

A mobile Interactive Projection Technology system will also provide inter-generational sensory experiences from the new centre.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “The centre will be sited on the ground floor of Colchester Library where the escalator is set to be removed, transforming the existing awkward layout.

“The space will better connect the children’s library, sensory bay, and literacy area, improving the library’s offer.”

Essex County Council will be contributing £112,500 towards the total project cost of £450,000.

The spokesman continued: "Colchester has been chosen as it is ECC’s largest library, with roughly 12,600 active members, 2,900 of which are children.

"Early years development in the city is also one of the lowest in the county whilst child poverty is higher than the national average.

"The new facilities will be open to the public next year."