Readers Urged to Stock Up on Books Before Library Make-Over Begins

The Oamaru Public Library is about to get its long awaited and much needed internal make-over. From Saturday 16 Feb to Sunday 16 March inclusive the Library will be closed for stage two of its building refurbishment. Stage one was completed last year with the rejuvenation of the Workroom and Stack room.



From now until 15 February the public will be able to borrow more books than usual and are being encouraged to stock up on their reading supplies to carry them through the 30 days that the Library will be closed.



The decision to close the Library during the upgrade was made following exhaustive efforts exploring other alternative options including the setting up of a temporary library. However the costs for this proved to be prohibitive and would have eaten into the funds available for the refurbishment.



Library Manager, Lorraine Weston-Webb, acknowledges that the temporary inconvenience is regrettable but wants to reassure everyone that practical steps have been taken to lessen the impact on the public.



She also says, “Council's investment in upgrading the Library is clear recognition of the Library as a valued resource and the importance of it as the community's 'living room'. I am confident that people will welcome the fresh and inviting space that will result from this refurbishment. It is long overdue, having had little attention since it was built more than thirty years ago."



During the Library closure a temporary reading room for reading newspapers and magazines will operate in the Blind Foundation Hall behind the Library in Steward Street. It will be open on most Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 to 12.00 and will also offer second hand books for sale. Return items can be handed in at the Hall during these hours, or to the Oamaru Public Library by using the after hours return slots to the left of the front door. They may also be returned at the Palmerston Library located at the Waihemo Service Centre.



Overdue charges won’t be incurred providing books are returned within two weeks of the Library being reopened.



Contact with the Library can be made via phone and email or in person at the temporary Reading Room during its operating hours. Services will include renewing items, reference enquiries, ordering books on interlibrary loan and placing reserves on items.



This stage of the upgrade work will cost $150,000, with the total upgrade budget of $269,500 funded by reserve funds earmarked for the project in 2005. The Library will reopen on March 17 with shelf stacking ongoing until Easter. Reopening celebrations are planned for 26-29 March.