Users delighted with £1.1m refurbishment at Joymount

After Thursday’s initial preview for dignitaries, it was business as usual at the Joymount Court building on Friday following major refurbishment.

Local man Samuel Armour, a stalwart of both Carrick and Whitehead libraries, expressed his delight at the new build.

“They really have done a lovely job with it,” he said. “The £1.1 million has been well spent!”

The library’s new refreshment area was the ideal place to relax and have a coffee for Austin Herron, who called in to stock up on his favourite sci-fi novels.

“I’ve been using the library regularly even while it was in the De Courcy Centre; it’s a fantastic service,” he said.

Jade McBride drops into the branch for a browse once a week. “I’ve got a Manga cartoon book out this time,” she said.

“I’m learning Japanese at the minute so I can understand them a bit better.”

Meanwhile, Carrick mum Yabo Li visits almost every day to take out children’s books for daughter Chloe.

“My daughter loves reading,” Yabo said. “The library holds ‘story-time’ events once a month, which are ideal to take her to.”

The reopening is the culmination of a nine-month effort from staff of both the Carrick branch and Libraries NI.

“We have been working very hard over the past few months to ensure that the reopening of Carrickfergus Library would be a success,” said Lynn Buick, Operational Manager with Libraries NI.

“The feedback we have received from initial visitors has been very positive.”