New CBS Library set to open next week

By Mark Squibb/January 20, 2023

Next Thursday is a day that bibliophiles in Conception Bay South and surrounding area have literally waited years for; the day that marks the opening of the new public library.

Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse broached the subject in her opening remarks during this past Tuesday’s public council meeting.

“With the new year comes a new opening in our town,” said Gosse. “This afternoon, council had the privilege to tour the new library building and it was quite the treat. Staff were there, and they were very busy getting organized and shelving books and getting ready.”

Gosse said the plan is to open the library next Thursday, January 26.

“It’s a beautiful, bright building, and not your typical library that you remember you grew up with and what we did have in the community,” she said. “It’s a beautiful building, there’s lots of space, and a maker room, and we listened to staff as they explained what a maker room is: it’s a place to be creative with technology. And I look forward to learning more about that, and the things that can be done in the maker room. There’s a great community room, a community space, where they will have programming that will also be open for community groups and not-for profit groups to use and meet. There’s lots of places for people to work and study and connect. And there’s an outside garden, a reading garden, that will be developed, which will come together in the spring and summer.”

She allowed the new building was a beautiful addition to the community and council is well pleased with it.

“It was nice to get a little sneak peek before it opens to the public on January 26,” she added.

Mayor Darrin Bent said “this is not your father’s library,” but was instead “a whole new kettle of fish; a whole new way of doing business.”

The library was first announced nigh on a decade ago but was beset by delay after delay.

Council broke ground on the $4 million, 8,000 square foot building, located at Remembrance Square alongside the Town Hall, in August 2021.

The Town is responsible for ownership and maintenance of the building, which will be leased over a 25-year term by the Provincial Library Board at a cost of $230,000 annually.