Library opened at former Southsea Woolworths store praised (UK)

Leading literary figures have praised the opening of a new £1.5m library in Portsmouth. International bestselling author Kate Mosse officially opened the new facility, built in an old Woolworths store, in Southsea. The library also has a cafe - complete with a pick-and-mix box based on the old store favourite, internet facilities and customer service centre. The site replaces a smaller library elsewhere in the city. A council spokesman said the decision to take on the building was made before the Liberal Democrat-controlled authority announced £15m of cuts from its budget for the current financial year