A SPECIAL family fun day will mark the reopening of a Southampton library in its new home.

Woolston Library will reopen today at its new location in Victoria Road in the emerging Centenary Quay complex.

Meanwhile, the former library in Portsmouth Road could be turned into flats if plans are approved by the city council.

The new library is part of the £500million plans to redevelop the former Vosper Thornycroft site which will eventually see 1,600 homes built there.

Based at the junction of Victoria Road and John Thornycroft Road, it will host an opening day event from 10am.

The ribbon at the new library will be cut at 11am before two rhymetime and storytime sessions for youngsters take place at 11.30am and 2.15pm.

From 3-4pm there will be a children’s craft activity session.

Its opening hours will be 10am to 5pm on Mondays and Fridays, 10am to 7pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and closed on Thursdays and Sundays.

The children’s library will be open from 10am to noon and 2pm to 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm on Saturdays.

Southampton City Council says the new library will feature computers for use by members of the community and will host learning sessions for people to learn more about using computers.

The number of books available will also increase while there will be full disabled access, including accessible toilets.

Council communities and leisure boss Satvir Kaur, right, said: “I am looking forward to seeing the new library open in Woolston and I am proud that we have provided a modern facility for local residents to enjoy.

“I strongly believe that libraries are more than just books, and this library, with its multi-use facilities for all ages, is a great example of this.

“Woolston library is a perfect addition to the new Centenary Quay development and helps cement the area as a family-friendly community hub, supporting community learning well into the future.”

Woolston councillor and city council housing chief Warwick Payne, pictured oppositeon page 15, said: “I think the new Woolston Library will be very exciting – it will be larger, it will be easier to access with level access throughout and also it will be part of the new community facilities and shops that will be opening at Centenary Quay.”

The old Woolston Library building, first opened in 1921, has been put up for sale by the council and plans to convert it into one three-bed and one two-bed flat and a three-bed house are currently being considered.

Many of the new flats at the development are already occupied, but the development did suffer a blow when it was recently revealed that Morrisons had pulled out of plans to build a supermarket there.

Developer Crest Nicholson says it is prioritising the search for a new occupant for the supermarket unit, which is already built.

The reopening of Woolston Library comes as five other libraries transferred to community management after the council cut their funding.

Weston Library has now reopened in 68 Weston Lane, while Millbrook Library is now open in its new location at the Pickles Coppice Children’s Centre in Windermere Avenue.

Cobbett Road and Thornhill libraries have also reopened under new management, but Burgess Road is still unable to open due to “complications with the flooring”, according to the city council.

It had been due to open last month but a new opening date is set to be announced soon.