Dartmouth North Public Library on Highfield Park Drive has been under construction since December of 2020 and excitement is building for the re-opening this fall.
Staff's sneak peek
On August 5, Dartmouth North staff took a break from their temporary location at Farrell Hall to tour the renovation project.
Despite the grey day, spirits were high as staff clomped around the site in their work boots. Even on a rainy day, the new space is bright and feels fresh. No one will miss the pale yellow walls and mismatched furniture and carpet. Another highlight was learning that the new program room will have a ceiling-mounted projector. This feature is a first for the branch.
Three bright nooks
Anyone who has been in the neighbourhood lately will notice, on the ball field side of the Library, the addition of three bump-outs with windows. These expansive windows will let in natural light and the bump-outs create three small nooks: a reading cubby, study booth, and gaming station.
All of the drywall is now complete and the walls and ceilings have been painted. Items still on the to-do list include flooring, lighting, siding, and built-in wood features.
Meanwhile
The Outdoor Library has remained open during the construction work, and while construction workers have being reshaping the Library's insides, we frequently see a few community members on the deck, enjoying the space, using the wifi, and charging devices.
Dartmouth North staff have continued building relationships in their temporary location on the other side of Victoria Road and are excited to encourage our new friends to continue using their Library service when we move back to the renewed space.
Next
We expect the construction work to wrap up within the next couple of months and are planning for a fall reopening. It is also the branch’s 25th anniversary, so expect a big celebration!
