Cliftonville Library Transformation

A recent £85,000 refurbishment at Cliftonville Library has transformed the space into a vibrant, welcoming, and accessible community hub. Designed with inclusivity at its core, the project demonstrates how thoughtful zoning, collaborative planning, and user-centred design can significantly enhance the library experience for children, families, teens, and adults.

What began as a refurbishment of the children's area evolved into a wider transformation encompassing the adult library, creating a cohesive environment that supports learning, social interaction, wellbeing, and community engagement. The project also aligns with Kent County Council's co-location programme, bringing together library services and Community Day Services within a shared space to better support local residents. 

Cliftonville Library's children's area was a well-loved and frequently used space, but it no longer met the needs of its young users. The area relied on adult-height shelving and a mixture of browser boxes, limiting accessibility and reducing opportunities for imaginative engagement. The library team wanted to create a space that felt welcoming, inspiring and specifically designed for children. 

As the project developed, additional funding became available to refurbish the adult library. This brought new opportunities, but also additional requirements. The redesigned space needed to:

• Support users of all ages and abilities.
• Provide dedicated areas for teenagers.
• Accommodate Community Day Services programmes for adults and young people with learning difficulties.
• Deliver a cohesive identity across both the children's and adult libraries.
• Improve accessibility throughout the building. 

From the outset, accessibility and inclusivity guided every design decision.

The transformed library now includes:

• Dedicated quiet spaces to support a variety of user needs.
• A Changing Places facility and accessible toilet with adult changing facilities.
• Flexible spaces that can support both independent use and organised community activities.
• Sensory features that encourage interaction and engagement.
• Furniture and shelving designed to be accessible and welcoming for all users, whilst also creating clear sightlines. 

These additions ensure that more members of the community can confidently use and enjoy the library, regardless of age or ability.

To create a truly engaging children's environment, the design team looked beyond the library walls for inspiration.

Located adjacent to a local park, Cliftonville Library's children's area was developed around a playful treehouse theme, creating a natural connection between the library and its surroundings. Through carefully selected wall graphics, integrated shelving features, colour palettes and textured furniture, the design brings the outdoors inside and encourages exploration and discovery. 

Key features include:

• A custom story wall with integrated reading den.
• Additional storage incorporated above the feature structure.
• Mobile browser boxes with integrated seating.
• Sensory panels built into the shelving.
• Seasonal-inspired carpet designs reflecting the colours of changing leaves throughout the year. 

The result is a playful and stimulating environment that encourages children to engage with books, participate in storytelling, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

A key objective of the redesign was creating opportunities for families to spend meaningful time together.

The children's space incorporates comfortable seating for adults alongside engaging features for children, encouraging shared reading experiences and parent-child interaction. Sensory elements, reading dens and storytelling features create natural opportunities for families to explore the space together rather than use it independently. 

This family-focused approach helps strengthen the library's role as a place for learning, connection and community engagement.

Recognising the importance of providing spaces for older children and teenagers, the project introduced a dedicated teen area designed to support both relaxation and learning.

The space includes:

• Acoustic reading dens that improve concentration and provide a sense of privacy.
• Large collaborative study tables.
• Comfortable seating for social interaction and independent study. Importantly, this area is also shared with Community Day Services, supporting young people with disabilities and learning difficulties. The flexible design ensures the space can accommodate a range of activities while remaining welcoming and accessible to all users. 

The transformation reflects a strong commitment to collaboration and community inclusion. 

Working alongside Community Day Services, the library has become more than a place to borrow books. It provides a valuable environment where adults with learning difficulties can learn new skills, build friendships and participate more fully in community life. 

This integrated approach demonstrates how library spaces can successfully support broader community objectives while maximising the value of public investment.

One of the project's biggest challenges was managing a changing project scope.

Originally focused solely on the children's area, the refurbishment expanded to include the adult library, introducing new requirements such as:

• A new help desk.
• New wall and mobile shelving.
• Additional reading den provision.
• New loose furniture throughout the space. 

Rather than treating the two areas as separate projects, the design team took the opportunity to create a cohesive identity across the entire library. Common design elements were used throughout, while colour schemes and graphics gave each zone its own distinctive character. 

Another challenge involved a long wall within the adult library that contained multiple doors and lacked visual appeal. The solution transformed this potential limitation into a striking design feature by incorporating a large-scale graphic inspired by the local White Cliffs. Grey doors blend seamlessly into the artwork, creating a visually impactful feature wall rather than a corridor of service doors.

Today, Cliftonville Library provides a welcoming, accessible and connected environment for its diverse community.

Highlights include:

• Inclusive spaces designed for users of all ages and abilities.
• Enhanced opportunities for parent-child interaction.
• Dedicated facilities supporting Community Day Services.
• Inspiring themed children's spaces that encourage reading and exploration.
• Comfortable study and collaboration areas for teenagers and adults.
• Bespoke graphics celebrating local landmarks and community identity.
• A cohesive design that unites previously separate spaces while giving each area its own personality. 

Every aspect of the Cliftonville Library transformation was shaped by the people who use it. From sensory features and accessible facilities to collaborative learning spaces and family-friendly design, the project demonstrates how thoughtful library planning can create lasting value for communities.

By prioritising accessibility, encouraging parent-child engagement, and supporting partnerships with community organisations, Cliftonville Library has evolved into a truly inclusive destination, one that inspires learning, connection and belonging for everyone who walks through its doors.

The results speak for themselves with a 45% increase year on year in book loans and a wealth of positive user reviews, the library is thriving.