Library to re-open in the Community Centre - May 8

Strathcona County Library will re-open in the Community Centre on the morning of May 8, resuming its regular operating hours.     

The library has been closed at its home location since November 6, after the explosion and fire in the Community Centre Parkade. Soot settled on all surfaces on both floors of the library. In the months since the blast, extensive cleaning and restoration have taken place, including a specialized cleaning of every item in the 200,000+ collection.

“While the library space is no longer in a construction state, it’s still far from functional as a library,” says library CEO Sharon Siga. “The comprehensive cleaning process will now be followed with the mammoth task of organizing the library’s collections, in preparation for restoring full operations at the Community Centre location.” 

The temporary library at 100 Broadview Drive will close at 9 p.m. on April 30. 

The 55,000 items that have been housed at the Baseline Village location will be moved to the Community Centre and re-integrated between May 1 and May 7.

“This is a similar process to our move from the Sherwood Park Mall in 2010,” adds Siga. “We closed for a month, moved everything, and set up again in the Community Centre. This time we’re moving less material, and we’re doing it in a week.” 

In advance of April 30, the library is encouraging patrons to check out plenty of books, DVDs and music. Loan dates will be extended by one week, and those checking out five items or more will be able to enter a draw to win one of the specially-designed “Keep Calm and Library On” t-shirts.

Most library programs and workshops scheduled for May 1 to 7 will be held in Community Centre meeting rooms.

“The Strathcona County Library is more than an important anchor tenant in the Community Centre. It’s a gem of a community hub and our cornerstone to literacy and learning,” says Mayor Rod Frank.  

“Many people have said to me how much they miss their library at the Community Centre, and can’t wait for it to open,” adds Mayor Frank. “We have good news—you will have your ‘community living room’ back soon. I would like to express a sincere thank you to all library staff for their diligence, as well as to citizens for their patience throughout this process.”

“Alberta Health Services (AHS) Environmental Public Health staff have worked closely with Strathcona County to ensure offices, meeting spaces and the library in the Community Centre are safe and no longer present risk to members of the public and County staff,” says Dr. Shobhit Maruti, Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health with AHS.

"Following significant cleaning by County contractors, AHS is confident the library is safe to re-open. We’d like to thank the County for its collaboration on this work and its dedication to ensuring this process was carried out safely and thoroughly all while keeping residents’ health in mind.”

The Community Centre Parkade restoration work is nearing completion; its re-opening date will be determined once building safety codes and Alberta Health Services clearances are obtained.

Public parking options currently include the new underground Centre in the Park Parkade, street parking and outdoor parking lots at Festival Place, Kinsmen Leisure Centre, Sherwood Park Arena and Sports Centre, and County Hall. More information is found at strathcona.ca/parking. Please follow posted time limits. Public transit is also an option.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of refining in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: 
Strathcona County – Communications, 780-410-6595

Strathcona County Library – Communications, 780-410-8614