Births, deaths and marriages can now be registered at Whitehaven Library following an extensive £40,000 revamp.

Staff from the Cumbria Registration Service have today relocated to new purpose-built rooms within the renovated library.

The building reopened this week after work has seen it transformed with a new spacious layout, increased seating, more community services and small meeting areas, all with free wi-fi.

Frank Morgan, chairman of the Copeland Local Committee for Cumbria County Council said: “The county council has had to save over £250m in the past five years. We continue to look for every opportunity to reassess our points of delivery.

“The local committee is adamant we must aim to retain the best services we can and I’m delighted to see that here, a small investment has made such a big difference and has created such a lovely vibrant facility.’’

A refurbished children’s area includes new furniture and can now offer breast-feeding screens for mothers wanting privacy. Visitors to the library will also be able to download e-books through Bolinda BorrowBox as well as access to a large number of computers.

Also based at the library are Cumbria Community Learning team who run the new traineeship programme on behalf of the Copeland Local Committee; Community Waste Prevention, Active Cumbria and the Community Services team.

Library staff had given their time to help with the renovations, painting, making soft furnishings and rearranging the new layout.

The registrars have moved from their previous premises at Whitehaven’s Flatt Walks.

Louise McKenna, senior registrar for Cumbria Registration Service, said: “We feel this move will be a win-win for everyone involved. The community retain a vital frontline service in the heart of the town, with better facilities for those who need the services. While the local authority are able to make savings by creating a multi functional community hub.

“We are delighted to be moving to such a bustling environment where the public facilities are much better for their clients.’’