Visitors to one of the district’s newest public libraries have helped numbers at the museum in which it is housed jump by 20 per cent in its first year of opening.

Bolling Hall Library will celebrate its first successful year since it opened in Bradford’s oldest public building, Bolling Hall, with a family event tomorrow.

The new library was a replacement for the former East Bowling Library, which was on nearby Flockton Road and closed down at the beginning of 2012.

It opened in January last year following a month-long refurbishment programme at the museum in order to create the self-service library within Bradford Council’s historic manor house.

As well as being the first library within a museum in the district, it is only one of two public libraries offering readers the chance to borrow and return books on a Sunday.

The anniversary event takes place between 1pm and 3pm.

Bookstart Bear will be there to encourage young readers at 2pm and there will be pirate-themed craft sessions, storytime and a face painter.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said: “I'm delighted that visitor numbers are up at Bolling Hall and at the library.

“The two facilities work really well together.

“I'm looking forward to the family day. It's great to see young people getting stuck into all the activities.

“It's another way of encouraging the readers of the future.”

The library is open during museum opening times which are: from 11am to 4pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and noon to 5pm on Sundays.

As well as the longer weekend opening hours, visitors to the library have access to hundreds of new titles in large print, as well as children’s and adult fiction.

There is a regular rotation of stock and people will be able to order in books from any other library in the district.

It is housed in a room which was previously home to a virtual tour of the museum and is staffed on Wednesdays and Fridays.