Pirate-themed craft sessions and face-painting helped the celebrations get underway at one of the district’s newest public libraries.

Bolling Hall Library opened in January last year within Bolling Hall museum and has helped the visitor numbers jump by 20 per cent in its first 12 months.

The event also included storytime and a visit from Bookstart Bear in an effort to encourage young readers.

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

It is a replacement for the former East Bowling Library, which was on nearby Flockton Road, and closed at the beginning of 2012.