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Martin De Ruyter/Stuff
Nelson City Council acting library manager Kate Miller, left, and Elma Turner library staff members Nicola Harwood and Devon Heinz in the reopened area of the library on Wednesday.
Jill Eagar had an armful of books soon after Nelson’s main library reopened with an expanded floor area.
The former librarian said she was “very, very, very happy” to be browsing in the Elma Turner library again.
More of the library was reopened on Wednesday morning, with visitors welcomed by smiling staff and hot coffee, in the latest move towards full reopening after earthquake strengthening and repairs.
It now has 70% of its public space back in business, including access to its learning centre and research room as well as the reopening of the main entrance and main toilets for the first time since it was shut in June last year.
Martin De Ruyter/Stuff
Former librarian Jill Eagar was an early starter for the opening of more floor space in the Elma Turner library.
Heavy ceiling tiles had been discovered to pose an earthquake risk, and the ceiling grid also had issues, making the building earthquake prone. A pop-up library has been progressively expanded since last July.
Over the previous 10 days the library was closed as staff moved 800 shelves and 25,000 books into the larger reopened area, with a high proportion of the fiction and about half the non-fiction books now back on display.
The library had been expected to fully reopen this month, but structural damage found in four roof trusses in the southern of the building, nearest Halifax St, required further repairs and has delayed the full opening until February next year.
Eagar praised the hard work of the library staff to get the building ready.
“As a former librarian I appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Martin De Ruyter/Stuff
Performer Kath Bee entertains children at the opening on Wednesday.
The Nelson City Council’s acting library manager, Kate Miller, said having more space for the collection, customers and staff would make a big difference.
Councillor Tim Skinner, part of the library reopening taskforce, said the silver lining to discovering the truss problems was identifying the source of a longstanding problem causing internal leaks that had now been solved.
He thanked the staff and contractors for their work in getting most of the library back in operation,
The total cost of the library’s strengthening and repair project is $2.7 million. Skinner said once completed it would meet 67% of the new building standard for its ceilings, and 34% for the structure, giving the building an estimated five to 10 years of further life.
Nelson Mail
The library’s main entrance has been reopened for the first time since June last year.
The council has shelved a plan for a proposed $46 million new library, but has approved spending $200,000 to investigate a site for a new “community hub”, including a library in or near the city centre.
Skinner said he believed the $40 million-plus price tag for a new library was too much. Extending the longevity of the existing library would give the council more time to come up with a different solution.
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