Linwood Mini Library to close

Monday 25 March 2013

Linwood Mini Library will close this week while preparations continue for the opening of a new temporary library and service centre at Eastgate Shopping Centre.

The mini library at 180 Smith Street will close on Saturday 30 March at 4pm. However, the temporary service centre on the same site will remain open for longer, closing at 5pm on Friday 26 April.

Mayor Bob Parker will open the new temporary Linwood Library and Service Centre at Eastgate, on the first floor of the shopping centre, on Tuesday 30 April.

The mini library opened in April 2011 following the closure of the Linwood Library in Cranley Street after the February 2011 earthquake.

Unit Manager Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says the Council recognises residents will miss the library service in the time between Linwood Mini Library closing and the new Eastgate facility opening. However, she hopes customers will understand that it will take some time for staff to set up the new library.

The shelving, furniture and computer equipment from Linwood Mini Library will be used in the new facility. Staff will also need time to set up the 50,000-item collection that was previously at the Linwood Library in Cranley Street.

Linwood Mini Library has been a lifeline for many of our customers since it opened last year. Although the small space has been challenging, staff have really enjoyed the increased interaction with customers and are looking forward to building on these relationships at our new library.

We appreciate customers’ understanding while we make the transition to the much larger facility at Eastgate, Mrs Robertson says.

The new library at Eastgate will open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Until it opens, the closest alternative libraries are South Library, 66 Colombo Street, and Central Library Tuam, 121 Tuam Street.