Your Future Libraries – our Capital Development Programme

Shelving on wheels, as shown here at the Community Stadium, enables us to use spaces flexibly for other purposes like events
The interior of Hungate cafe, showing a range of seating options for various types of use - high stools, dining room chairs, and comfy sofas
Substantial cycle parking, shown here at the Burnholme Centre, including some under cover
Integrating book displays into our cafes encourages people to browse popular books over a cuppa
Rowntree Park Reading Cafe has a home-from-home feel with attractive soft furnishings and rustic tables.

Library shelving on castors in the Community Library

A range of seating at Hungate Cafe: a breakfast bar with high stools; wooden tables with four chairs; and sofas around a low coffee table

An external view of the Burnholme Centre, including ample cycle parking

The cafe at Burnholme, showing seating around tables, and a book display unit

A group of customers sitting around a table at Rowntree Park Reading Cafe, with one half on padded benching and the others on dining room chairs. In the foreground some paperback children's fiction is shelved in between seating areas.

You know that Explore spaces in your local area are safe, welcoming and accessible. We knew from listening to you that you wanted more services available locally.

•A place to sit and enjoy a cup of tea alone or with friends.
• The latest books and information.
• A place to get online for free with people around to help if you need them.
•To be able to be creative with other people in your community.
• To get involved with Explore as a volunteer or by joining a Friends groups.

We worked with you to create your libraries shaped by your needs. Using our successful, new co-located libraries in Tang Hall and in New Earswick as a pattern, we worked with City of York Council to secure funding to transform libraries at Clifton, Haxby and Wigginton and Acomb.

Clifton

Clifton Explore Centre opened on 23 September 2024.

Our community partners Accessible Arts and Media, York Music Hub and York Learning are all based with us at Clifton Explore Centre.

You can find out more about the history of the development by clicking the Clifton button below.

Haxby and Wigginton

Haxby and Wigginton Library re-opened on 3 January 2023.

The new library is co-located with Oaken Grove Community Centre and we worked closely with the centre’s trustees and local residents on plans to refurbish and extend the existing building. Work started in June was completed in late autumn 2022.

Acomb

Acomb Explore re-opened on 5 January 2026.

The Explore Centre on Front Street, Acomb was already well-known and loved as a lively hub at the heart of the community. In 2023 we heard your thoughts for how we might improve Acomb Explore further and used what you told us to bid for funding of £250k from the Libraries Improvement Fund through the Department of Culture Media and Sport and administered by the Arts Council. The bid was successful and the money was used to refurbish and improve the facilities of the existing building. Acomb was our first Explore Centre and was last refurbished back in 2007

Clifton Explore: completed September 2024

Haxby and Wigginton: completed January 2023

Acomb
Explore: completed January 2026