A New Chapter for Goole Library as £450,000 Refurbishment Plans Take Shape
Goole Library has been awarded a £450,000 grant from the government and the local council. The money will be used to upgrade existing facilities and to create a new children’s area and shared facilities.
Work will commence in 2027 and brings hope that the public library will remain open long into the future.
The Plight Of The Modern Library
Libraries have existed for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting the first organised public library was developed in the Ancient Middle East, in Nineveh, in the 7th Century BCE.
However, more recently, approximately 200 council-run libraries have been closed or taken over by volunteer groups. There are fewer than 4,000 public libraries across the UK today. The change has largely been cited as due to the rise of the internet. Approximately 98% of the UK’s population has regular Internet access, meaning many people have been driven online, with readers able to buy, read, and even borrow books online.
The same has been seen across many industries, with cinemas feeling the effect of streaming services. which offer easy access to TV shows and films. Other traditionally land-based entertainment offerings, like online casinos, have moved online. Gamblers now predominantly play traditional casino table games and slots online via browsers and mobile apps.
However, while online libraries and book-borrowing apps have become more popular, traditional libraries still play an important role in many local communities.
Goole Library
Goole Library has managed to stave off closure. It was the first Council-run leisure building to be constructed in the East Riding town and was built in 1905.
Today, the site on Carlisle Street also includes the Goole Museum, microfilm readers and other library features. Thanks to new funding from the government and local council, it is set to undergo a major facelift.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sports’ Arts Council has awarded the service a £300,000 grant, with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council providing £150,000 in match funding. Work is expected to begin on upgrades next year.
Goole Library will undergo a £450,000 refurbishment funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and @East_Riding, creating upgraded, flexible community spaces from 2027. #Goole #Libraries #CommunitySpaces https://t.co/ImLlTTy7dQ pic.twitter.com/17HlqS3W6y
— Commerce & Industry (@CI_Mag) April 14, 2026
The council is expected to hold a public consultation to discuss proposed changes and ensure the upgraded facility meets local requirements.
The council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure, and tourism, Councillor Nick Coultish, described the grant as “fantastic news for Google library” before going on to say, “This funding will play a key role in helping the library provide more services to local residents, and we look forward to the refurbishment getting underway.”
Goole Bicentenary
The grant comes at a fitting time for the town, as it celebrates its bicentenary year. Events are taking place across the town, including in the library itself.
Goole was founded as a company town by the Aire and Calder Navigation Company, and, approximately 50 miles from the North Sea, it is England’s most inland port. It is still used as a port today, ferrying around 2 million tonnes of goods.
The bicentenary celebrations have included the opening of Goole-Built: The Story of Goole Shipyard at the museum, along with the launch of regular art classes. In July, the town will host a weekend of major celebrations to mark the special date.
