A library needs £1.3m of improvements to restore it to good condition, councillors have been told, writes Mark Templeton.

Oxfordshire County Council heard that Oxford's Central Library in the Westgate Centre had a catalogue of problems including a leaking roof, old boilers and air-conditioning and old electrical wiring.

The lifts also need upgrading to improve access for disabled.

A survey last year revealed the extent of the work, and the council planned to tackle it over a four-year programme. But after an explosion this summer in the refrigeration plant almost closed the library, the work is now said to be urgent.

Almost £1m is needed to get repairs under way.

Andrew Coggins, assistant director of cultural services, said: "We had hoped that a rolling programme would have solved some of the problems, but they are growing faster than expected."

Director of cultural services Thomas Forrest said the work would have little impact on the day-to-day running of the library. The council's cultural services committee heard the work would start in April.

The library is seen as a flagship in the county and is home to the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies collections, which includes a photographic archive.

The matter will now go before the council's strategy and resources committee for a decision on funding.

Story date: Thursday 30 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.