A community celebrated more chances to learn and play when a transformed library opened its doors this week.

Pollards Hill library re-opened on Monday after its £1m refurbishment with the launch of a “give it a go” fortnight.

In July the library was broken into by thieves who stole around £10,000 of computer equipment, but the crime did not delay the re-opening.

Free taster activities and special events will run at the building on South Lodge Avenue for the next week and half.

The new look library has already hosted sessions in literacy, computing, job hunting and money management. Next week’s activities include T-shirt designing and play dough making for families, as well as the start of a fashion and media course featuring an ex-editor of style magazine Marie Claire.

Other events scheduled for the next month include coffee mornings and a session teaching residents how to set up their own community health group.

The refurbished library is now larger and more energy efficient, with more resources including new learning rooms and computers.

Councillor Richard Williams said that local people had flocked to the library on the day it re-opened. He said: “It is looking absolutely amazing. It is a real tribute to all the hard work that has gone on.”

Linda Scott, the council’s cabinet member for housing and community services, said: “Give it a go fortnight means that Pollards Hill residents have an exciting opportunity to try out some of these great free courses in the terrific surroundings of their brand new library.

“Following major investment from both the Big Lottery Fund and Merton Council, the revamped library now has ideal facilities for these kinds of activities.

“It’s a really promising start for Pollards Hill library and I look forward to seeing the local community benefiting in many ways in the future.”

For more information about the library visit merton.gov.uk/learning/libraries or call 020 8274 5741.

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