Major upgrade to Tweed Heads Library gets underway next month

22 December 2016

Alternative arrangements for library users during construction

A $2.5 million upgrade of Tweed Heads Library will begin next month to create a bigger, more versatile and user-friendly community facility.

The project will increase the library floor space from 619 square metres to 1054 square metres and will allow greater flexibility in how the building is used, including new areas to accommodate programs and user groups.

Last week, Council resolved to engage contractor J.M. Kelly Builders for the project, which is estimated to take eight months (to September 2017).

To complete the project as quickly and cost effectively as possible, the library will be temporarily closed during

Construction, Council’s Director Community and Natural Resources, Tracey Stinson, said.

However, a number of measures will be taken to ensure residents will still have access to much of the collection and services during this period. This includes an alternative reservations pick-up, return and collection browsing area within the civic centre building, along with a computer and newspaper reading area in the neighbouring Council Tweed Heads Administration Centre.

Home library services, an extended mobile library service and the provision of activities and children’s library materials from Council’s Community Centre (next to Tweed Heads South Aquatic Centre) at Tweed South are among other steps being implemented to bring continuity of services.

All three Tweed libraries will close on Christmas Eve at noon for their usual closure during the festive period.

While the Kingscliff and Murwillumbah libraries will reopen on Tuesday 3 January and will provide full services and collections during the Tweed Library upgrade, the Tweed Heads Library will remain closed until September 2017.

The alternative sites and services will become available from 16 January, once a transition of library collection and infrastructure from the closed building to the temporary sites is finished.

Ms Stinson said a staged approach to construction, to keep sections of the library building open during the project, was considered but would add too much to the cost and timeframe for construction, while raising issues about safety for staff and the public.

There will be some inconvenience for Tweed Heads library users with access to a reduced collection during the works, she said.

But Council and Richmond Tweed Regional Library staff are working together to ensure any disruptions are minimised and to make sure our users have various avenues to access the services and materials they require and value.

“A temporary closure is the best option while we create a library building that meets the needs of a growing Tweed community with increasingly sophisticated requirements from its local library. The improvements also include a more user-friendly service desk and better Borrower Assisted Loan Stations, improved accessibility and a larger computer area with more PCs,” she said.

In addition, the upgraded building will be more energy efficient and provide a more comfortable environment for users. For more information and updates about the upgrade, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Library