Residents of Quadra Island saw the official opening of their new library branch Saturday.
The new 3,207 sq. ft. facility located at Cove Centre, Quathiaski Cove is more than three times the size of the former branch.
“This new facility provides a welcoming, airy and bright, fully-accessible community space with large windows, and room for more books, CDs, DVDs, newspapers, magazines, and computers,” says Ronna-Rae Leonard, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL).
The new library features:
- Designated reading area with comfortable lounge chairs
- Six computer stations
- Children’s section with colourful, age-appropriate furniture
- Children’s literacy computer stations
- Section for teens with attractive, age-appropriate furnishings
- Study area with seating for eight
- Stand-alone catalogue stations
- Express check-out station
- Wireless access
- Customer holds pickup area
“I know the residents of Quadra Island will be pleased the library’s collection has increased from 13,000 items to over 15,000 items to respond to increased demand for service from Quadra’s over 1,200 registered borrowers,” says Rosemary Bonanno, VIRL executive director.
The library also includes a small space to display local art, washrooms are wheelchair-accessible and there is ample parking. The architect for the Quadra Island Library Branch is Paul Hammond of Chow Low Hammond in Victoria.
The new branch is located close to the credit union, grocery store, gas station, coffee shop and other retail businesses, as well as the elementary school and the RCMP office.