Ipswich County Library set for first major refurbishment in 40 years

Ipswich County Library is set for its first major refurbishment in 40 years, thanks to an almost £900,000 investment that will transform the landmark building for a new generation of residents.
Published: 29 Jul 2026

The plans have been shaped by feedback from library users and include a completely refurbished children's library, along with improvements to make the building more modern, welcoming and accessible for people of all ages.

The refurbishment aims to improve the experience for current users, attract new visitors and help ensure the library continues to meet the needs of the community for years to come.

More information about the plans will be shared in the coming months.

The project includes a £500,000 grant from the Government's Libraries Improvement Fund, which will be combined with investment from The Clore Duffield Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation and local developer contributions.

Suffolk Community Libraries is one of just 28 library services across England to receive the government grant, which is part of the Government's Arts Everywhere Fund, managed by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The project marks the biggest investment in Ipswich County Library for more than four decades and will give one of Suffolk's best-used community and cultural spaces a new lease of life.

Library leaders and the cabinet member for communities at Ipswich County Library.
L-R: Charmain Osborne, Executive Library Manager, Ipswich County Library; Krystal Vittles, Head of Library Service, Suffolk Community Libraries; and Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Coastal Affairs, Communities and Public Health, at Ipswich County Library, which is set to undergo its first major refurbishment in more than 40 years.

Krystal Vittles, Head of Library Service at Suffolk Community Libraries, said:

"I am delighted that our funding bid has been successful. Ipswich County Library is already one of our most popular libraries, this funding will allow us to make it even more accessible to existing users and enticing to those who haven't discovered the library yet. We're especially excited about the new children's library as we know that will be transformative for so many local families."

Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said:

"This is an exciting new chapter for one of Suffolk's biggest and best-known libraries. Every day, people of all ages use Ipswich County Library to read, learn, meet others and take part in activities.

“I recently visited the library and saw the plans for myself. It’s exciting to see the vision for the future. This refurbishment will breathe new life into the building and ensure it continues to serve the people of Ipswich for many years to come."

Work is expected to begin towards the end of 2026. Some disruption to services is expected while the refurbishment is carried out, and further details will be shared closer to the start of the project.