Cleator Moor Library will soon be moving to a temporary location while work on a proposed new community hub is carried out.
Subject to planning consent, a new public services and cultural community hub will be created by reconfiguring and linking two existing buildings in Market Square - the library and the former Credit Union building, which was also used by the NHS, Cumberland Council and iSH.
Funding for the project is coming from the Cleator Moor Town Deal, with the Revitalised Town theme aiming to tackle the issue of underutilised buildings and improve the presentation and perception of Cleator Moor town centre, making the town more attractive to investors and providing skills and employment opportunities for local people.
To make way for the proposed changes, the library will be moving out of its current location in Market Square to its temporary site on the ground floor of the PEC Phase 3 building. Physical library services will be unavailable in Cleator Moor from 16 to 20 March 2026 to allow the move to be carried out safely, with services resuming in the new location on the week commencing 23 March 2026. An exact date will be communicated on the council’s social media, website and on-site signage closer to the reopening.
During the closure, online services, such as the digital library via the Borrowbox app remain available. For more information about online services please visit the library section of our website.
At the temporary library location, people will still be able to access a range of services, including book browsing, borrowing and returning, computer access, printing and photocopying , provision of hearing aid batteries and the regular groups and activities. The opening times will remain the same.
The new permanent library facility will be part of the wider community hub building and will be a reconfigured space with improved reading areas and internet access. Additionally, it is proposed that the community hub contains a new café annexe, incorporating a commercial kitchen to the lower ground floor. The hub will look to provide a range of new facilities such as exhibition and arts space and services for youth provision.
The council’s ambition to create community hubs comes following feedback from residents and local organisations about having more integrated services. The proposals to have more services under one roof are designed to further enhance the authority's commitment to provide well utilised library spaces that are accessible and community centred. Bringing more services together ensures local people can access help, advice and support more conveniently.
This idea is already proving successful as part of the pilot of the ‘Community Hub’ in Workington Library, a collaboration between the libraries, customer services, other council-run services and third sector partners.
Cllr Anne Quilter, Executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: “We look forward to welcoming all customers to our temporary site and continuing to provide a library service in the community whilst the Town Deal project renovations and redevelopment go ahead in the coming months, subject to planning approval. “The plans for the new library and wider community hub look very exciting and I’m sure they will be a huge asset to the area.”