The forced lockdown of Kempsey Library created the chance to finalise the renovation designs and prepare the site for work to get underway.

Council received a $460,000 Public Library Infrastructure Grant from the NSW Government to upgrade the building to include new bookable meeting rooms, quiet study pods, a youth space with gaming technology and a new children's area that will flow onto a deck and outdoor reading room.

Kempsey Shire Council Manager Community Partnerships, Lyndal Harper, said Library staff will be working to ensure community access to the service is maintained despite the works.

"Over the weeks of lockdown the Library team have delivered books throughout the Shire and also cleaned, catalogued and rearranged as much stock as we can fit at the rear of the building."

"The building has been divided into two halves and renovations can now start from the Elbow Street end, including the removal of trees that have damaged the footpath, so that the whole entrance to the Library can be rebuilt and made safer," Ms Harper said.

"When the reduced service Library reopens on Monday we are committed to helping customers get access to the collection as easy as possible throughout the renovation, which will take the rest of 2021 to complete."

Library visitors will enter through the rear of the building via the Council car park, where some additional public parking spaces are available.

Customers will be able to browse stock, make selections and use public computers for minimal printing needs, but there won't be access to seating and lounging spaces. A click and collect service will operate and access to all the books, movies and resources online remain unchanged.

Kempsey Library operates weekdays 10:00am until 5.30pm and Saturdays 9am until 12pm. All visitors to the Library will have to follow the COVID safe rules including wearing masks and checking in.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: