West Branch Of Saint John Library Moving

The west branch of the Saint John Free Public Library is on the move over the coming weeks.

But frequent users of the library in Lancaster Mall will not have to go far to find its new home.

The branch is relocating to a newly renovated space inside the mall on Fairville Boulevard next to Walmart.

“We’re very, very, very excited,” said Laura Corscadden, city librarian for the Saint John Free Public Library.

Corscadden said the west branch has been located in the southeast corner of Lancaster Mall for more than 30 years but has not seen any major upgrades in a “very long time.”

“We’ve undergone a couple of different expansions over the years in our current spot but we have never really started with a blank, clean slate like this,” she said.

Plans to relocate the library have been in the works for more than a year, said Corscadden, with construction starting a few months ago.

Earlier this year, the company that manages Lancaster Mall announced a “partial redevelopment” of the 235,000-square-foot shopping centre over the coming months.

Strathallen said the Saint John Free Public Library would be relocating next to Walmart, providing patrons with “direct access to the library from the main parking lot.”

The company said a “national fitness provider” is also expected to occupy 15,000 square feet of space next to No Frills and Bank of Montreal.

Corscadden said while the overall size of the new space is comparable with the library’s current home, it feels quite a bit larger.

“Because we were starting with a blank slate, we could really make the most use of the space as we possibly could,” she said.

The new space will include expanded space for browsing and programs, two public study rooms, and a larger children’s area.

The west side branch is closed to the public, as of May 10, while resources and equipment are moved to the new location.

“If you’re in Lancaster Mall over the next couple weeks, you might see library staff walking book trucks full of books down the hall to the new location,” Corscadden said with a laugh.

Officials anticipate the new library will open on May 25. In the meantime, users are encouraged to visit one of the city’s other library branches in Market Square or in the Saint John Transit building or to check out their online services.