Ōamaru Library to close for heating upgrade

Published on 20 April 2023

The Ōamaru Library will be closed from end of business Friday 12 May, reopening on Monday 29 May to upgrade the library heating system in time for winter.

Waitaki Libraries Manager, Jenny Bean said, “While we understand this will impact our valued customers for a couple of weeks, we hope this will make a more comfortable library experience year-round.”

The library’s current heating is a 50-year-old boiler system will be upgraded to a more reliable and cost-effective heat pump system.

Projects and Assets Officer, Toby Armour said, “The existing heating system has reached the end of its serviceable life. A new ducted heat pump system will be installed throughout the Ōamaru Library building to ensure to that rate payers have the most cost-effective and efficient heating and cooling system in this vital community facility.”

The Ōamaru Library will be a construction zone during this time and resulting health and safety requirements means members of the public will not be able to borrow or make returns to the Ōamaru Library. The library removed fines in July 2022, so users do not need to be concerned with overdue fines for books.

This also means ordering books from the Ōamaru Library will be unavailable during this period. Borrowing and services in the community libraries will continue as per normal and customers can borrow books directly from the community libraries.

There will be some service provision during the works such as issuing Skinny Jump Modems which will be done via phone, home services will continue as per usual, Wriggle and Rhyme will continue, and Maker Space Mondays will be delivered from the Scottish Hall.

And of course, all the libraries online services will remain with the provision of E-Books, E-audio books, and online platforms.

Ms Bean continued, “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to our customers, but we do hope that the new environment will be more efficient for ratepayers, and better for the health and wellbeing of library customers.”

These works were funded through the annual plan process which was approved for 2022-2033. The Ōamaru Library will reopen on Monday 29 May at 9.30am for regular services.

ENDS