'Explore'- York's first Library Learning Centre is on target to open in February as the building is formally handed over next week (Tuesday 18 December).

A partnership between the library service and adult and community education, it will provide library and community-based adult learning facilities, boasting state of the art learning rooms and a completely new library layout. The extension and refurbishment of Acomb Library, costing just over £700,000, to create the new Library Learning Centre, has been funded by The Learning and Skills Council and City of York Council.

Fiona Williams, the council's head of libraries, said: "This is an excellent facility and we should be very proud to have this in our city. We have plans to open a further five Library Learning Centres to offer more fantastic learning and leisure opportunities."

There will be a full programme of adult education classes at the centre along with a range of library services and other community based activities.

'Explore' -  the new name for the Library Learning Centre will include four new learning rooms, a new library layout with comfortable seating, a quiet study space, an exciting children's area and a cafe. The new ICT suite will be furnished with new PCs with the latest windows operating system Vista, and will offer a range of taught and flexible computer courses and support the development of English and maths skills.

Members will be asked to approve plans to extend the former library's opening hours from 9am until 9.30pm Monday to Thursday; 9.00am - 5.00pm on Fridays and 9.00am - 2.00pm Saturdays.

It is proposed that the facilities will also be available for hire on Wednesdays for meetings or community events and activities. The building will also be available for young people's activities on a Friday evening.

Plans are already underway for four other Library Learning Centres in York - New Earswick, Clifton, Haxby and Tang Hall.