Library expanding

DIDSBURY – The town office will be moving to a new building next year, say officials.

The move will allow the library to expand into the town office doubling the library's current size. The decision was made at the regular council meeting on Oct. 25.

The new location for the town office has not been announced as the town is in negotiations for the purchase.

“This intended purchase of this building will grant the Didsbury Municipal Library's request to expand into the current town office footprint, which will eventually double the size of our current library space,” Mayor Rick Mousseau said.

“This will allow the library to offer not only increased space but increased services and materials to our residents and visitors.”

In 2015, council was approached by the library with a proposal to undertake an expansion.

“The library outlined advantages to this proposal which included doubling the existing floor space, ensuring a prominent location in the downtown core, and continuity of service to residents,” he said.

“At the time there were no appropriate locations to relocate the town office to, so the proposal was unable to move forward.”

Recently, town council learned of an opportunity for relocation of the town office, which renewed momentum of the project.

The town had been searching for a permanent location for both the town building and Didsbury Neighborhood Place.

“The intended purchase of this building will amalgamate the services currently offered in two separate facilities; offering our taxpayers a higher level of service and convenience,” he said.

With the proposal, the library will undertake extensive renovations to both its existing facility and the existing town office space beginning in late 2017, with the desire of having a new refurbished space to call home in 2018.

“We're very excited,” said head librarian Inez Kosinski. “The library has been growing in use and visits and checkouts. It'll be nice to have the space to accommodate that growth.”