Public FAQ – Woodlawn Library Expansion Study
Revised Dec. 7, 2009
- Q. Where will the new Woodlawn Public Library be located?
A. The new location of the Woodlawn Public Library will be at 31 Eisener Drive, adjacent to the Portland Street Real Atlantic Superstore. The building previously housed a six-screen Cineplex operated by Empire Theatres. Halifax Public Libraries has signed a lease with the building owners, following the approval of the long-term lease on this property by HRM council. The building is being renovated to our use requirements. - Q. Why did the Library look for a new site for the Woodlawn branch?
A. The current Woodlawn branch is no longer big enough to meet the needs of the community. At 4,000 sq. ft., the branch is one of the smallest urban outlets of the Library system, yet it has the fifth-highest circulation.
Due to limited space, the branch has been unable to meet demand for public seating, meeting and program space, child and adult public-use computers, self-service check machines and other popular services. - Q. How big is the branch space in the new building?
A. Although it was originally planned to find a space of 12,000 sq. ft., the Library recognized that even that was not large enough for the number of people served by this branch. Branch space in the new Woodlawn Public Library measures about 17,000 sq. ft., a size that is in keeping with prescribed measures for the population size. - Q. What will the new location have that the current location doesn’t?
A. In addition to being much larger, the new branch location offers the opportunity to design spaces that respond to the needs the community identified as necessary and desirable: separate and adequate seating and collection spaces for children and families, teens and students, adults and older adults; dedicated computer space; excellent programming space. There is ample parking at the site, which is also accessible by several bus routes. It also has sidewalks and a walking trail which reach it. Upon opening at its new location, Woodlawn Public Library will offer public services on Monday as well as Tuesday through seasonal Sundays. - Q. When will plans for the new branch be made available?
A. Updated floor plan drawings are posted at Woodlawn Public Library. - Q. What is the timeline for renovating the building and moving the branch?
A. The landlord is transforming the interior space from movie house to library building. The work is expected to take about four months, until the end of January 2010. Meanwhile, the Library is making arrangements for the final fit-ups, such as shelving and furniture. An opening-day collection of new materials for the branch is being prepared. Because the branch is moving to a new location, the Library expects to need only about 4 weeks during which library services must be completely halted for the public. The old Woodlawn will close as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. Staff will spend the month of February moving materials and making sure all systems are up and running at the new location. The new Woodlawn branch is expected to open on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. - Q. Will there be more staff?
A. Yes. Since the new branch will be much larger than the current one, there will be more staff added. In addition, there will be new automated efficiencies, such as the option of self-service checkout, so that staff may become engaged with users in more meaningful ways. - Q. Are there other changes planned for this new facility?
A. Yes. In addition to housing the Woodlawn branch, the building will also become home to several of the Library’s non-public staffing groups, including Delivery, Collections Management, Collection Access and Corporate Research and Development. Because the building is more than 23,000 sq. ft. in size, there is ample room for these departments without crowding space needed for branch operations. These non-public departments will be in a separate area of the building and will operate independently of the branch. - Q. Will an expanded Woodlawn mean reductions in other branches?
A. No. Woodlawn’s needed expansion has been planned for a long time. Neighbourhood needs in one branch’s area are not addressed by removing services from other areas of the municipality.
