MORE than 10,000 customers, old and new, have visited the newly-refurbished York Explore Library Learning Centre in each of the past three weeks.

Since the centre reopened nine weeks ago, it has attracted almost 2,000 new members.

Now open on Sundays, the centre has benefited from an extra 550 Sunday visits.

Children’s fiction lending was up 74 per cent in June, compared with last year, and non-fiction was up by 24 per cent.

Lending in the new section promoting graphic novels, or comics, has increased by 152 per cent on the figures for June, 2009.

The centre’s event with Chocolat author Joanne Harris drew in 200 visitors for her talk earlier this month.

Fiona Williams, head of libraries and heritage at City of York Council, said: “The figures speak for themselves and show just how popular York Explore is with residents and visitors.”