More than £2 million pounds will be spent on Longsight Library in Manchester as part of a major refurbishment to improve and expand services in the area.

A £2.3 million state-of-the-art library and brand new learning centre will be delivered under one roof in 2009 with contributes from Manchester City Council and a grant from the Learning Skills Council Challenge Fund.

The refurbished library will be redesigned to ensure that customers get the most from their visit, whether it's to gain information, learn a new subject or simply relax.

The investment in the library will be the latest improvement to Longsight District Centre. Other elements have included a recently-completed £1.5 million streetscape improvement scheme along Stockport Road and other roads around the district centre. This has included new street lighting, paving, parking bays and tree planting.

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Signs bearing a new visual identity for Longsight district centre - four colourful Ls placed together to form a crossroads design symbolising the heart of the busy area.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "This is fantastic news for Longsight and is part of our long-term commitment to see libraries at the heart of every community in Manchester."

The combined library and learning centre facilities will include a new and improved Children's Zone with storytelling area, a Homework Club and the first Headspace Zone - a new laid-back environment for young people to read or surf the internet.

The first floor will feature the new Learning Centre to include classrooms for various courses such as music, language, history, crafts, literacy and numeracy. There will also be a relaxing break-out space and community area.

The project is expected to begin early 2009 with anticipated completion time of 14 months.

(CD/JM)