Cedarbrae library to reopen after two-year closure

The Cedarbrae library will reopen at the end of December following a two-year closure for renovations.

“The heating and ventilation systems, the plumbing — everything had to be replaced and upgraded,” said director of branch libraries Anne Bailey.

The branch closed its doors Oct. 6, 2008 and was originally scheduled to reopen 18 months later. Now at 24 months, the project is nearly complete. Anne Marie Aikins, manager of corporate communications, says the community can’t wait to see what’s been done.

“This branch is going to be particularly exciting because there’s lots of new things,” Aikins said. “The community is going to be ecstatic when they see it.”

On top of a 403-square-metre addition, the new and improved branch features a teen zone, a local history room, an early literacy centre and thousands of new books, CDs, magazines and DVDs. There were also necessary repairs completed during the renovation.

The building is more environmentally friendly, Bailey said.

“When we do a renovation, all of the light systems and everything that is installed is more energy efficient,” she said.

The building itself was constructed from locally purchased, recycled materials and is oriented to let as much sunlight in as possible.

Though area residents may have been visiting nearby branches for the past couple years, Bailey is confident they will come back to Cedarbrae at the end of this year.

“What we found in other major renovations like this one is that it takes a long time, but when it reopens people are very pleased,” Bailey said. “When we reopened the S. Walter Stewart library, which was closed for a similar period of time, we put out a guest book for people to sign and we got some wonderful comments.”

Until December, those in the Cedarbrae area can still take advantage of the extended hours at the Bendale library branch, as well as the bookmobile that visits Cedarbrae C.I. every Thursday morning.

About this article

By: Kimberlee Nancekivell
Posted: Oct 27 2010 12:41 pm
Edition:
Filed under: News
Topics: