PLANS for a multi-million-pound revamp of York Central Library have been unveiled. New furniture, more open space, better lighting and more up-to-date technology will all be on the cards.

There will also be new multi-purpose learning rooms, a children’s area and a café – as well as more books and longer opening hours.

Acomb’s new Explore library, where visitor numbers have trebled since it was revamped a year ago, will be used as the model for the renovation.

Council spokesman Nigel Stutt said the existing library was a “musty old building, full of out-of-date books”.

The renovation would give York the modern library it so badly needs, he said.

If the plans are approved, work on the first phase could begin this autumn. It may well require the library to be closed for several weeks.

But if it means we end up with a library that people actually want to use, it will be well worth it.