Refreshed Harris Museum on a mission to improve literacy in Preston

by Alice Donnelly · 12 January 2026

The Harris is set to help the rise of literacy in Preston according to museum boss.

Tim Joel, head of culture and arts at Preston City Council, believes in the importance of having a free place where the public can spend their time.

The £19 million renovation has seen a updated library and also free spaces for any member of the public to do whatever they need according to Mr Joel.

The Harris library is the biggest in Lancashire and Mr Joel is delighted that after its reopening, it has seen families coming weekly to refresh the books they are taking out.

The space can be used like all Lancashire’s Libraries for people to keep warm in the cost-of-living crisis, somewhere for young people to do their schoolwork or somewhere for people to simply relax and meet with friends.

“I think it really is important…having a free space,” said Mr Joel, who is also assistant director of the museum.

The library is also offering a number of initiatives for young and older people with lessons in IT and job skills.

Tim Joel in The Harris Museum (Credit: James Best)

When it came to renovating the Harris, the council valued the input of the public.

Originally the library was on the first floor of the museum so that people would come to the library and interact with the rest of the museum too.

After reading the public’s feedback, people did not like the idea and the library was moved to the ground floor.

Mr Joel said: “That sense of feedback throughout and I think that’s really you know I’m really proud, pleased that we’ve been able to do that.”

While the main borrowing collection remains on the ground floor, other books which are not as popular but are just as important, are placed around the rest of the museum in locations relevant to the exhibits being shown.

“We have been able to get biographies up on the first floor, we’ve been able to get art books on the second floor, so we have dispersed library throughout the building.

” So it’s really important that we responded as we did and positively to that,” Mr Joel added.