Aberdare Library is undergoing a massive £385,000 refurbishment scheme to complement the extensive regeneration work in the town centre.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council secured fundsingfrom the Welsh Government’s Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area programme to carry out widespread improvements to the popular library.

The funding is being used to clean paint from the portland stonework on the exterior of the building, as well as installing a new roof, new signage, a CCTV system and internal improvements.

Cllr Craig Middle, Cabinet Member for Social Justice and Customer Care visited the library to see the work being undertaken.

“Thanks to the generous funding from the Heads of the Valley programme we are able to carry out essential refurbishment work to this incredibly popular and well used facility in the heart of Aberdare,” he said.

“Regular users of the building and visitors to Aberdare town centre itself will be impressed by the improvements we’re making which complements the widespread regeneration scheme already undertaken in the local vicinity.

“Aberdare Library remains one of the most popular in the whole of the County Borough and I would encourage even more members of the public to take advantage of the many services on offer there.”

Aberdare Library is not just about books, but the place where the public can borrow CDs and DVDs, enjoy book clubs, listen to fascinating guest speakers and there’s even a specialised teenager’s library.

Children can enjoy a variety of events, use the internet and enjoy a number of other free services, such as tracing your family ancestry.

The £7.7million Aberdare town centre regeneration project includes streetscape improvements that focus on four key areas and involves new footpaths and carriageways using quality natural stone paving, and new exciting features including walls, benches, steps, street furniture and street lighting.

Through the project’s Townscape Enhancement Programme and Townscape Heritage Initiative commercial properties in the town centre have benefitted from extensive refurbishment work, culminating in new businesses opening their doors and job creation locally.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council secured financial support from the Welsh Government through the European Regional Development Fund, Heads of the Valleys Programme, Cadw and the Targeted Match Fund. The remainder of the funding package is provided by the Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the private sector.

Membership of all Rhondda Cynon Taf's libraries is free and everyone living or working within the county borough is welcome to join. For more information on Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service, log on to http://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/libraries