Titahi Bay residents will have a new library open in March.
Titahi Bay Library is moving – but not far.
The library, which has been housed in the same building in the Whitehouse Road shops since 2000, will be moving to the nearby Plunket building.
The decision to purchase the Plunket building was made last week at a full Porirua City Council meeting.
The discovery of black mould in the library’s walls earlier this year meant it was unsafe for public and staff use and it was closed while alternative accommodation could be found.
The footprint of the Plunket building is just right to house the library’s 5000 items, Porirua City Manager City Libraries Brian Anderson says.
“There has been a full review of the building and it suits our needs perfectly,” he said.
“It’s important we get the service up and running again for the people of the Bay, so this is a good result. About 40 per cent of the library transactions in this suburb is by preschool and school-age children, so families do value it.”
The cost to buy the Plunket building is $42,816. This cost will be offset by savings on having to test for mould at the old library and leasing that building for the next two-to-three years.
Ongoing costs for insurance, power and operational maintenance are already budgeted for in the Long-term Plan.
It is expected the new library will be up and running in March.
14 Dec 2018
