LIBRARY staff new and old have bid farewell to a loved member of their team as they unveil a new look entrance to their building.

The Halstead Library has opened its its newly refurbished, High Street facing, doors after being shut for a rumoured 50 years.

The grand, blue doors are “a lovely way to welcome the people of Halstead to this valuable community resource” says former library supervisor Jo Norris.

Halstead Library is a grade-II listed building built in 1864-65.

It became a library after being the town’s Corn Exchange.

With the High Street doors shut for many years, the side Disability Access Door has been used as their main entrance instead.

Ruth Stickley, another former supervisor at Halstead Library, said that the doors “look lovely” and “the library looks so much more visible from the High Street”.

However, the reopening of these doors is also the closing of a door for library supervisor Miranda Bedwin.

Miranda is retiring after working for Essex Libraries since 2005. She has welcomed many Halstead residents into the library.

She commemorated the occasion by opening the doors in the presence of some of her past and present colleagues, including Ruth and Jo.

It was a special send off for someone who has dedicated so many years to the library service.