The Friends of the Innisfail Library Society has received two grants of more than $27,000 this month to furnish the new $8 million public library and members are hoping the facility will finally be open for the public next month.
“We are hoping the new library will have its grand opening in either the first or second week of January,” said society member and fundraiser Melinda Mercer.
The official opening for the new building at 5300 55 Street-Close, which will also house a seniors’ centre and new quarters for the Henday Association for Lifelong Learning, has experienced repeated delays. It was originally supposed to be completed last March, and then again in October. The old library has been closed since Nov. 10. In the meantime, patrons have been forced to use library services in other Parkland Regional libraries, including those in Penhold, Spruce View and Olds.
Project manager Dale Mather said the delays have been caused by “complexities” with the construction of the new building.
“It was initially delayed because of delivery and erection of steel,” said Mather. “It is a type of building where one component relies on completion of a previous component.”
However, he added construction is in its final stages, and that the building is “substantially” complete with only some finishing to flooring and roofing to be completed.
The total area of the new single-storey building is 19,375 square feet. The library will cover 7,700 square feet, the seniors’ centre will have 3,900 square feet, and the Henday association will occupy 1,500 square feet. About 4,000 square feet has been set aside for the building's common area, another 650 square feet for the public washrooms and 1,370 square feet for the janitor and mechanical rooms.
Mather did agree with Mercer that the grand opening will be next month but could not offer an exact date.
Mather said before approval is given to officially open the building he has to receive final inspection reports from the building consultants. They are then sent to the town's safety codes officer. Town staff then has to receive training on the building's mechanical and electrical systems.
Last summer, prior to the problems in obtaining construction materials, Mather said construction had been going well, including the installation of more than 28,000 drought-resistant native plants, including grasses and wild strawberries on the facility's “living” roof. Mather said the plants will provide the building with better insulation, protect the roof from wind and the elements and is beneficial for storm water retention.
Mather said the project would cost about $1 million less than the $9 million set aside in its total budget.
Meanwhile, Mercer said the two grants totalling $27,565, one for $5,000 from the Farm Credit Canada (FCC) AgriSpirit Fund and $22,565 from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, will go towards paying for $104,000 worth of new furnishings for the new library, including tables, desks and shelving. Any money left over will go towards new computers.
She said the town has already purchased the furnishings and the grant money will now cover part of that expense. Mercer said the society is within $25,000 of raising the total $104,000 amount.
“Everything has been purchased by the town on our behalf and we give the (grant) money,” said Mercer. “I am still working on other grants and they are due for submission on Dec. 31. I won't know the status of them until next year, sometime maybe in March.”
