THE team tasked with reviving the future of Bradwell library will face its first challenge next month as it closes for a makeover. Making the Lords Lane library more attractive and user-friendly are just some of the ways the new management committee believes it can increase usage.

THE team tasked with reviving the future of Bradwell library will face its first challenge next month as it closes for a makeover.

Making the Lords Lane library more attractive and user-friendly are just some of the ways the new management committee believes it can increase usage.

In January the Mercury reported how the library could have been consigned to the history books as only a handful of people were using the 1,200-title library for the town afternoons and one morning it is open.

Five years ago residents answered a battle cry to save the facility in the face of cost cutting measure by Norfolk County Council.

However, following a meeting in February a new management committee was set up charged with bolstering user numbers.

Bradwell Library Management Committee chairman Peter Harrison said they planned to close the 100-year-old building between May 1 and June 6 for re-painting inside and out and re-stocking.

He said: “We've always had too many books for the space we have, so much so we've had to stop taking them. We will put some new ones on the shelves and give the place a general tidy to make it look cleaner and brighter.”

The committee will also look to hold fundraising events which could lead to improved services at the library, such as internet connection, an idea which surfaced following a library survey with young people.

Mr Harrison said: “I think we all realise the library will never be fully busy but we would like to double the number of people using it. Young people said they wanted internet connection and that is something we may look at in the future but there would be a cost involved in this.”

The library's history is complete with as many twists and turns as the novels on its shelves. In 2003 a closure threat was overturned with residents deciding to go it on their own and launched a book appeal. In a matter of weeks 10,000 titles had been donated.

The library, manned by volunteers, was extended in 2007 to include a new study room and disabled toilet, courtesy of local building Dale King. The �35,000 extension doubled the library's capacity

It has about 1,500 members but the facility is only used by just under 200 people.

Computer courses at the library run by East Norfolk Sixth Form College will not be affecting during the closure.