Robertson Construction has been appointed as the main contractor to carry out the works, which are expected to take around six months.

The project is part of Moray’s £100 million Growth Deal. The project is funded through £3.5m in capital from the Scottish Government and £1.3m from Moray Council, along with £1.6m in revenue support from Moray Council.

Elgin Library will be the first location in Moray to host a specialist STEM facility, providing a base for interactive and curriculum-aligned learning experiences. The STEM Starts Discovery Centre will be created through the renovation of the library’s former drill hall space at the rear of the building, ensuring the main library remains fully operational throughout.

Designed in collaboration with Glasgow Science Centre and Unusual Projects, the centre will feature hands-on exhibitions themed around life and work in Moray, supporting key aspects of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. Some of the early design concepts can be viewed here.

To support wider access across the region, the project also includes:

• A mobile STEM outreach solution for use in schools and communities across Moray.
• Classroom-based resources to support educators.
• Future satellite hubs in Forres and Buckie.
• A dedicated outdoor STEM learning environment.

There will be no major disruption to day-to-day services within the library. However, a small number of parking bays will be restricted to allow access to contractor cabins. Library events and activities will continue as normal, and while bookable meeting and event rooms will be unavailable until the works are complete, once reopened, the new spaces will be available for the community for use.

Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “By introducing STEM to children early in their education journey, we aim to inspire a love of discovery that will stay with them through life and potentially into a future STEM career. This will play a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation of innovators and supporting Moray’s future workforce.

“It’s fantastic to see construction getting underway, this marks a key milestone in delivering a facility that will benefit young learners across Moray for years to come.”