By Jessica Wind (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 21, 2012
A new UFV library opened its doors with the new CEP building this past September, and soon it won’t be the only new kid in town; new libraries are popping up all over the Fraser Valley.
November 2 marked the last operational day for Abbotsford’s downtown MSA Centennial library. Opening in 1967, the building became a staple in the reading routines of Abbotsford residents over the past 40 years.
Judy Casey, who has been the branch supervisor for 15 years, enjoyed the familiar sounds of the old building.
“There’s something comfortable about it, even though it’s not up to 21st century standards. Old buildings that creak and make noises are comfortable,” she said in an interview with The Abbotsford News.
MSA centennial closed to make way for the new Abbotsford Community Library, which will be larger, brighter and better organized. The new facility opens on November 26 and is located on the Abbotsford Senior Secondary School campus.
The $4 million project is essentially double the size of the old facility and has added approximately 10,000 new items to the collection, as well as new seating, and children’s and teens’ reading areas.
Not to be outdone, Chilliwack is also in the midst of constructing a new library on the Sardis side of town, which is due to open in January 2013.
The $3.4 million project has focused on sustainable design features including energy-saving techniques, water conservation procedures and conscientious construction practices.
The facility will feature a multi-purpose community space, an adult area (complete with fireplace and a children’s reading space).
Rob O’Brennan, chief administrative officer for the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL), said the library will be beneficial for both the residents of the area and FVRL.
The new Sardis Library is very exciting for both the community and Fraser Valley Regional Library,” he said in an interview with The Chilliwack Progress. “It’s going to be a beautiful facility that will be used and enjoyed by everyone on Chilliwack’s south side.
Three days after MSA Centennial closed their outdated library for good, Langley Township council discussed plans for upgrades and expansion to their library facilities. With a projected population of over 127,000 in 2021, the city expects to need over 50,000 square feet of library facilities in addition to what they currently operate.
The plan involved renewing the existing libraries and possibly adding a new one in Willoughby sometime in the next 10 years.
A second idea suggested constructing a large central library in Willoughby and delaying upgrades to the older buildings until later.
The third plan encompassed ideas from the first two; a smaller central library for Willoughby residents and upgrades to existing facilities elsewhere in the township.
According to an article published in The Langley Times, the third plan gained the most council support and is estimated to cost at least $11.4 million over 15 years. A majority vote within council decided they would gather proposals for all three plans before moving forward.
Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley, in conjunction with FVRL, are working hard to bring residents upgraded public libraries. These libraries will come as a great benefit to UFV students that are used to commuting to campus in order to find a quiet place to study.
