BENDIGO will get a new-look library as part of a $7.2 million redevelopment approved by the City of Greater Bendigo last night.Initial concept plans have been released for the project which will include improved library access, meeting rooms and community spaces, a cafe and outdoor verandahs and alfresco seating.Organisation Support director Marg Allan said the council would look for project partners to help fund the development, which is expected to open in 2013.“We need to go into a consultation phase where we talk to the community about what people want to see in the library,” she said.“Then we’ll go into a detailed design phase and then it will probably take us two years to construct.”Ms Allan said the Hargreaves Street library had 475,000 visitors last financial year and was on track to reach half a million this year, which would open up opportunities to increase membership.“I think it would definitely increase membership and that’s certainly been the experience of every other library that has just undergone a major refurbishment,” she said.Ms Allan said the redevelopment was more sustainable with the council estimating costs to upgrade dated facilities in the 26-year-old building would cost $2 million, as opposed to $7.2 million for the full redevelopment.Goldfields Library Corporation chief executive Carolyn Macvean said improving facilities would mean services could be offered.“We’re not operating the way we should be, or could be. We are now working to capacity.“What we can do if our facilities or our materials can be moved around, we can bring the services to the community,” Ms Macvean said. “There’s a whole host of opportunities there.”Sandhurst ward councillor James Reade said it was time council spent money on the ailing building.“It’s an exciting development for Bendigo, it’s one of the most used facilities and it’s used by all sorts of people,” he said.“We really do need to spend some money on it.”