Published Thursday 12 March 2026 at 18:17
Residents are being invited to have their say and help shape the future of Darwen Library.
A new online survey has just launched to gather feedback about the library and the services it provides.
The responses will help inform future plans and could also support bids for additional funding.
Darwen Library and Darwen Library Theatre are already set to benefit from millions of pounds of investment through the Darwen Town Deal.
Planning permission has been granted for a series of upgrades to the Grade II-listed building, including:
- A proposed double-storey extension to better link the library and theatre and open up spaces for wider community use
- Improvements to the historic library building, focusing on repairing and retaining original features while creating more usable space
- An impressive new entrance to the theatre, making it easier to access from the town centre and creating space for a new café/bar
- Sustainability improvements to support the long-term future of both the library and theatre
And just this week, work has started to remove the former ticket office to the rear of the building.
The project forms part of wider investment across Darwen town centre, including the refurbishment of the Victorian Market Hall, a new arcade to replace the existing Market Annex, and a new town centre car park.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Darwen Youth Centre is also nearing completion and remains on track to open as a Youth Zone this spring.
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Vice Chair of the Darwen Town Board, Councillor Phil Riley, said:
There’s a fascinating history behind Darwen Library and Darwen Library Theatre – one that we want to preserve and celebrate while also looking ahead to the future of this beautiful and much-loved building.
The Town Deal has provided a fantastic opportunity to invest significantly in our town centre and in the things that matter most to residents.
This new round of public consultation will help shape how the library is used in the future, the activities on offer and the role it plays in the community.
Listening to residents is incredibly important to us and I’d encourage anyone who can to take a few minutes to complete the survey. It really could help make a difference.
The survey can be accessed online using this link, and there will also be pop-up information stalls at Darwen Market, Darwen Leisure Centre and the existing Darwen Youth Zone, in railway Road.
There’s already a wide range of activities taking place at Darwen Library, including craft groups, IT courses, reading groups, the Darwen Library Larks, Baby Story and Rhyme Time, Men’s Club and Family Story Time.
More information on those and everything on offer, including access to free ebooks, can be found on the new BwD Libraries website: www.bwdlibraries.com
And with it being the National Year of Reading, there’s never been a better time to drop in and discover what’s on offer.
Councillor Riley added:
Investing in our cultural venues is incredibly important to the future success of our town centres.
Libraries and venues like Darwen Library Theatre are also important in bringing people together and are a vital part of community life.
This investment marks an exciting new chapter for one of Darwen’s most historic buildings – and this consultation is a chance for residents to help shape that future.
The history of Darwen Library
Darwen Library was designed by architect Raymond Harrison and funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the iron and steel magnate who championed free public libraries.
Darwen was one of the first non-borough towns to adopt the Public Libraries Act in 1871, and by 1895 it was among the first libraries in the country to offer open access.
As the library grew in popularity, its original premises became too small. An application was made to Carnegie for £8,000 to fund a new building.
After initial plans were rejected, Darwen’s Council Chairman Ralph Yates travelled to Scotland to meet Carnegie personally. The visit proved successful, with Carnegie eventually awarding £10,000 for the new library, requesting that it include a dedicated juvenile library.
Carnegie officially opened the building on May 27, 1908, and many of its historic features remain today.
An original lecture theatre in the undercroft was later transformed into the Darwen Library Theatre, which opened in 2000.
Historical records also show that when Darwen became a borough in 1878 and the council took control of library services, Betty Bannister was appointed head librarian – believed to be the first female head librarian in the country.
Investment in cultural venues
Darwen Library and Darwen Library Theatre are part of a wider programme of investment in cultural venues across the borough.
With funding secured from Government, Blackburn with Darwen Council is also investing in:
- King George’s Hall – the largest performance venue in Lancashire
- The Making Rooms – an innovative space where visitors can develop skills in areas such as 3D printing, ceramics, textiles and electronics, which will double in size
- The Exchange – the iconic Grade II-listed former cinema now home to major art installations and the internationally recognised adidas Spezial exhibition curated by Darwen designer Gary Aspden
The Darwen Town Deal, alongside funding committed by the Council and private investors, is expected to unlock around £100m of investment for the town.
In addition, the Government has confirmed a further £20m for Darwen over the next decade through the new Pride in Place programme.
You can read all the latest about both at: www.theshuttle.org.uk