diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
index f3a7386..4f01a4a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
@@ -110,12 +110,27 @@ jobs:
     name: 🎊 Test & Version
     needs: init
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      library_build_java_version: ${{ steps.establish_library_build_java_version.outputs.library_build_java_version }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - id: establish_library_build_java_version
+        name: Establish library build Java version
+        run: |
+          if [ ! -f .tool-versions ]; then
+            echo "::error title=Missing .tool-versions file::gha-scala-library-release-workflow requires an asdf-format .tool-versions file to establish the Java version for the build."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          LIBRARY_BUILD_JAVA_VERSION=$( grep -Eo 'java [[:alpha:]-]+-[[:digit:]]+' .tool-versions | rev | cut -d'-' -f1 | rev )
+          echo "LIBRARY_BUILD_JAVA_VERSION=$LIBRARY_BUILD_JAVA_VERSION"
+          
+          cat << EndOfFile >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          library_build_java_version=$LIBRARY_BUILD_JAVA_VERSION
+          EndOfFile
       - uses: actions/setup-java@v4 # don't 'cache: sbt', at least until https://github.com/actions/setup-java/pull/564 is merged
         with:
           distribution: corretto
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: ${{ steps.establish_library_build_java_version.outputs.library_build_java_version }}
 #      - name: Debug MIMA assessment
 #        run: |
 #          sbt "show versionPolicyFindIssues"
@@ -239,7 +254,7 @@ jobs:
 
   create-artifacts:
     name: 🎊 Create artifacts
-    needs: [init, push-release-commit]
+    needs: [init, generate-version-update-commits, push-release-commit]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS: ${{ steps.record-hashes.outputs.ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS }}
@@ -250,7 +265,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-java@v4 # don't 'cache: sbt', at least until https://github.com/actions/setup-java/pull/564 is resolved
         with:
           distribution: corretto
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: ${{ needs.generate-version-update-commits.outputs.library_build_java_version }}
       - name: Generate artifacts
         run: |
           cat << EndOfFile > sbt-commands.txt
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index b4b76a9..a17b147 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -37,6 +37,19 @@ Your repo will require access to [release credentials](credentials/supplying-cre
 [pass on those secrets](https://github.com/guardian/etag-caching/blob/9935da29e76b8b89759bcfe967cc7c1c02aa1814/.github/workflows/release.yml#L11-L13)
 to the workflow.
 
+## Java version
+
+[Example `.tool-versions`]()
+
+Your repository *must* contain an asdf-formatted `.tool-versions` file in the root of the repository,
+specifying the Java version to be used by the workflow, eg:
+
+```
+java corretto-21.0.3.9.1
+```
+
+
+
 ## `sbt`
 
 ### Recommended `sbt` plugins