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Courtesy: Carnegie Heritage Action Team

Living in the Anlaby Road area Liz Shepherd has always been aware of the Carnegie Library situated at the gates of West Park. In recent years she has taken more than a passing interest and helping bring back the building into almost every day use has been something of mission for her and some like minded friends and local residents.

The library was opened in 1905 and was part of a number of 'free' libraries built by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who wanted to offer people something they'd never had before. The building was home to the library service for many years but when the KC Stadium plans were drawn up it was decided to include a new learning centre and the library service would be transferred to the new facility.

The building was given a Grade II listing in the 1990's and when the service closed in 2003 it was used only sporadically. In 2006 Liz, who for the most part had spent many years working in the voluntary sector found herself 'volunteering' once more to help bring the building into regular use when the Carnegie Heritage Action Team was formed.

She and author/historian Paul Gibson had visited the building and helped formulate a plan. Negotiations were entered into with the Hull City Council and after convincing the Council they had a workable plan the real work could begin.

The plan was to turn the building into a multi-use facility and help the East Yorkshire Family History Society base its operations there. Some of the work required to restore the building has already taken place with the help of volunteers and fundraisers who've helped raise money to provide materials to allow the work to take place. Some redecoration and remodelling has taken place and so has the task of indexing some of the old material and some new donations of books and maps.

On 1st January this year the building was opened once more and although far from complete the building is able to accommodate the family history society, a book binding service and also a book seller.

In June,听 the Carnegie Heritage Action Team were involved in the publication of 'Hull - then & now.听 A book by Paul Gibson which includes many photographs of old Hull from his own collection. The book is only available from the heritage centre and money raised from its sale will go to carrying out more improvement works.

The centre is located at 342 Anlaby Road and is running a series of free courses on the history of Hull and the Hull Floods in addition to family history course. For more details visit the Heritage Action Team website or 'phone 01482 561216.