ACCRINGTON Library is 100 years old tomorrow.

The Carnegie public library, in St James' Street, was officially opened by the mayor, Ald T E Higham, on January 18, 1908.

It cost £10,000 to build, including the teak floors and polished oak furniture, of which £7,500 was donated by Mr Andrew Carnegie, who made a fortune in steel.

A philanthropist and businessman, he gave away a great chunk of his wealth establishing 2,500 libraries, both in this country and America.

Prior to its opening the townsfolk of Accrington had used a lending library service, provided by the Mechanics Institute next door, while a reading room had also been opened in one of the market hall galleries.

This had proved immediately popular, with 70 to 80 people arriving to look through the 130 papers and periodicals provided every night.

When the library opened it took over the lending service's 11,000 books, including volumes for children and the blind, and a growing music collection.

To help it move forward, townsfolk made many donations, including Joseph Duxbury who bequeathed £3,500, while the private library collection of the late William Ashworth JP was also donated.

The new library was built over two floors, with a children's room with reading desks and a spacious reading room, fitted out with 96 individual electric standard lamps, specially fixed so that each reader could switch theirs off, in a bid for economy.

A reference room was created on the first floor, as well as a lecture hall, with a maple floor, which was also used for exhibitions.

Indeed, the mayor commemorated the opening by lending his own collection of paintings.

Over the years, the library was improved and altered and the first major project was a new children's library, created in 1938.

Each Accrington school sent a representative to its opening and it was hoped to invite as many as possible to the centenary celebrations this week.

A major feature of Accrington's library is the stained glass window on the staircase, created by Gustav Hiller, of Liverpool, in the Art Nouveau style.

The staircase is also of note, as it is keyed into the wall and so has no visible means of support.

The library was designed in Renaissance style by William Newton, the then borough engineer, and today is a Grade II listed building, as is the Mechanics Institute next door.

l To mark the centenary, the library is hosting an Edwardian family event on Saturday afternoon, which will include a turn-of-the-century schoolroom.

There'll be prizes for youngsters wearing period costume.