Bradford’s oldest public building, Bolling Hall, reopened yesterday after a month-long refurbishment programme.

A vital part of the work was to create a public library within the museum – which is the first of its kind in the district.

The new self-service library, based within Bradford Council’s historic manor house, is one of the few in the district to offer readers the chance to borrow and return books on a Sunday.

As well as longer opening hours, customers will have access to hundreds of new titles in large print, as well as children’s and adult fiction. There will be a regular rotation of stock and people will be able to order in books from any other library in the district.

The new library is a replacement for the former East Bowling Library, which was on nearby Flockton Road and closed down at the beginning of last year.

It is housed in a newly-redecorated room, which was previously home to a virtual tour of the museum, and is now available for readers to borrow and return books using one self-service unit. In addition, people can reserve books online using two public access computers, which will also be available for 30-minute sessions giving general internet access.

The library will share opening hours with the refurbished Bolling Hall Museum, and will be staffed on Wednesdays and Fridays, when people will be able to reserve books and make general enquiries. Paper forms will be available for customers who wish to make an enquiry outside of staffed hours, in addition to there being online access and an automated telephone line.

The library will offer a small children’s area and all of the usual activities, including storytime sessions and beginners’ computing courses.

In addition, a selection of newspapers will be available for people to browse.

The refurbishment at Bolling Hall Museum includes the return of the manor house’s Georgian staircase, the Tudor great hall, and Ghost Room, to their historical colour schemes.

In addition, the chandelier in the Georgian dining room has been restored to its former glory as staff have given some of the fixings and furniture a conservation clean using specialist equipment.

The redecoration has reinstated original colour schemes from the Hall’s 1915 restoration. Colour choices have been informed by photographs and contemporary schemes in other historic buildings.

In an effort to protect valuable objects during the maintenance project, some small objects were packed away and larger items that cannot be moved – such as the Chippendale day bed in the Red Room – were protected in situ.

Other work includes new signage, improved lighting and security around the building, and work to the exterior pathways to improve disabled access.

A virtual tour, aimed at visitors with mobility problems, can now be enjoyed in the museum’s foyer.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the Council’s executive member responsible for culture, said: “The historic manor house provides a splendid location for the library. I’m delighted that local people now have this facility. The full programme of events and activities will also much improve the library service for local people.

“Combining the museum and the library in the same building is cost effective for the Council, but at the same time enhances the visitor experience for both museum and library users. Visitors will be able to look around the museum, borrow a book or browse a newspaper in the library, and enjoy the hall’s beautiful garden.”

Bolling Hall is the oldest public building in Bradford and has been home to generations of prominent families since the 14th century.

The museum and library opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11am to 4pm; Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from noon until 5pm.

For further information, contact Bolling Hall on (01274) 431826.