It will be part of the Sure Start programme and will serve the communities of Northowram and Shelf.

An extension will be built on to the front of the library to combine both services which should be available in July.

The work includes refurbishing the library and car park. During the closure a mobile library will be provided and Shelf Library's opening hours will be extended to include additional mornings and afternoon sessions.

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "The development continues the programme of improvements to community libraries and bringing the library and children's centre together will add real value to both services."

The children's centre will be Sure Start's sixth in north and east Halifax.

There are also two at Ovenden and one at Illingworth, Mixenden and Pellon.

The centres provide advice to communities on education and childcare, health services and family support.

This week the Government announced it had reached its target of having 3,500 Sure Start centres nationwide by this month and more will open during this year.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Over the last 10 years we've been building children centres in every community, and now we're trying to improve them bit by bit so they really are tailored to the needs of parents."

The roll out of centres has been in three phases with phases 1 and 2 (2003-March 2008) serving families primarily in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas and Phase 3 (April 2008-plus) centres outside the most disadvantaged areas to complete universal coverage.