THE former library in Kirkbymoorside will be officially reopened as a centre for the local community on Saturday.

Extensive innovations have been carried out on the building, which has been renamed the Moorside Room, to make it more appealing and accessible to a range of users.

Kirkbymoorside-based construction and project management company Buffoni Hemmingfield has carried out the work, which includes disabled access, toilet and kitchen facilities as well as insulation and electric heaters.

The town council initiated the project with the aim of creating a hub that could be used by local people for a range of activities from art exhibitions to christenings. It will also become the home of a youth club, the Raspberry Pi club, and will be used as the town’s polling station.

Mayor Chris Dowie said to launch the new facility they were hosting a Made in Kirkby exhibition to coincide with the official opening.

Exhibitors will include Perry Slingsby, Micro Metalsmiths, Jim Wright, Celebrity Face Masks and Daisy Garden Centre.

“The aim is to showcase some of the businesses and artistic talent on offer in Kirkbymoorside,” she added.

“Local people may not be aware of some of the exciting things that are happening locally as some of these are based on the industrial estate.”

Funding for the Moorside Room has been provided with grants from Ryedale District Council and North Yorkshire County Council also with £20,000 from the town council itself.

“We choose Moorside because we wanted a new name that would look forward and look to the future of Kirkbymoorside,” Cllr Dowie added.

“It is great to see a building that has been empty in the centre of town for such a long time come back to life - it is really exciting.”

‘Made in Kirkby’ will be held in the Moorside Room on Saturday, from 10am to 4.30pm with the official opening at 2.30pm.

Ryedale District Council has agreed to all day parking in the Town Farm car park at a concessionary rate of £1.50.