LIBRARY visitors have voiced their approval for a new facility in Dorchester.

The county town’s new library and learning centre opened its doors for the first time on Friday and was given the thumbs up by service users.

The new library has more than doubled the floor space of its predecessor and offers modern learning facilities including family learning classrooms and an ICT classroom.

As visitors flocked to check out the new centre Dorset library service manager Tracy Long said she was delighted with how people had been responding to it.

She said: “We are really please with the final finished library and learning centre and the early feedback has been extremely positive.”

Marion Pymar, service manager for skills and learning for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, added: “It is extremely positive and people are very excited about our modern facilities we have got now and the lovely environment in which to learn.

“There’s just a really positive buzz about the place.”

A number of children’s activities were running throughout the day to mark the open and a series of celebratory events are planned for the coming weeks.

Nikki Blair, one of two managers of the new library, said the many youngsters and their parents had clearly been struck by the ‘wow factor’ of the new building.

She added: “The comments I have heard have been really positive and everyone seems really happy.”

Local mum Ferne Griffiths bought her kids along to enjoy the children’s area and said they were impressed by what they had seen.

She said: “It looks fantastic, we will come weekly now I can imagine and get books out.

“It’s really revived our interest in the library.”

Another satisfied customer was local resident Kenneth Addison.

He said: “The best part about the new library is it’s right in the centre of Dorchester with a car park outside and the district council offices next door.

“It’s a superb location and it’s very easy to get a book and book it out – it’s all done electronically.”

Dorset County Council has confirmed that the cost of the new centre is £1.2milluion but there will also be additional annual costs to the authority of around £200,000 for the next 25 years, taking the total cost to around £6million.