The integrated museum and library at Welshpool will be known as Y Lanfa/The Wharf, Powys County Council has announced.

The news comes as work to prepare the Powysland Museum in Welshpool to accommodate the town’s library is nearing completion. This is part of a wider property project which will see more supported accommodation for elderly people in the town.

The name Y Lanfa/The Wharf reflects the historic location of the canal-side building. The logo for the new facility has been designed on a voluntary basis by Australian-based graphic designer Catalina Lara, the sister in law of the assistant manager of the facility, Emily Claxton.

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The library will close its doors in its current location on Saturday, March 14, and is due to re-open on Monday, March 30. Library users will be given extra time on their loans and will be offered the opportunity to take extra books to cover the two week period. The library service also offers access to a virtual library – a wide range of e-books, e-audio downloads, e-magazines and e-comics - which will be available 24/7 for people to enjoy.

The current library facilities will be maintained in its new home, including computer access, children's space and the usual council services.

Once the current library building is empty, work will take place to refurbish it ready to accept council staff from Neuadd Maldwyn on Severn Road. Once this move has also taken place, Neuadd Maldwyn will (subject to gaining listed building planning consent) be transformed into independent living (also known as Extra Care) housing for elderly people by ClwydAlyn Housing Association.

Councillor Rachel Powell is Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture said: “Integrating the library and museum service into one building will support both services in opening up a combined space for many more activities and events. Combining cultural spaces hopefully open up awareness of the museum’s artefacts as well as encouraging a literacy focus.

"It is quite common practice for art exhibitions and literature to be rotated around other cultural spaces within Powys hence, displays and additional opportunities can be refreshed for the general public to enjoy."

Councillor Powell also paid tribute to the work of the graphic designer: “We are delighted with the logo and are very grateful to the graphic designer, Catalina, who has freely donated her time to design this for the museum and library in Welshpool.”

The Welshpool independent living project will be the second development to open in Powys after the opening of Llys Glan yr Afon in Newtown, in partnership with Wales and West Housing Association.

Independent living delivers modern purpose built accommodation which has 24-hour care and support available on site to meet the needs and changing expectations of residents, allowing them to live as independently as possible in their own homes. This kind of housing can provide an alternative to residential care, nursing care or sheltered housing. It aims to provide 'a home for life' for many people even if their care needs change over time.

Projections for the next 20 years show the number of people aged 75 and over will grow as a share of the total population from 11 per cent to 23 per cent. This demonstrates that Powys as a county achieves optimum wellbeing for our more senior population although it can also bring challenges for health and social care services.