NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Long awaited Albany Village Library taking shape

October 15, 2003

The form and structure of North Shore City's newest library can now be seen at its Albany Village site.

The concrete floor pad was laid earlier this month, and by the end of this week, walls for the second storey of the three-storey building, which will house the library on the ground floor, will be standing.

Chairperson of the council's community services and parks committee, Margaret Miles, says the new library will be open for borrowers by next April.

"For the first time in a North Shore City library, this library will include a new area office and cashiers to replace the existing area office, which closes at the end of November," Councillor Miles says.

"Our new library will also have public spaces, children's and study areas, internet and screen-based learning, as well as visitor car parking and a pedestrian connection from State Highway 17 for easy access."

The library's public entry faces onto a sunny paved public piazza area to the north which is bounded by a range of other retail activities as part of the larger Albany Village development currently under way.

The new facilities will be sited at the northern end of the Albany Village between Kell Park and the Massey Design School - and close to the village's colourful and entertaining collection of domestic chooks.

Margaret Miles says the library will house approximately 30,000 new book titles, as well as DVDs, CDROMs and other material.

"The library's design elements include the use of Oregon timber and earthy textures to represent the area's rural traditions, but they're placed alongside modern technology to give an interesting feel and a practical approach for customers, visitors and locals."

The existing area office at Albany will close in late November and will re-open once the new area office is established within the Albany Village Library in April. In the meantime customers may use the East Coast Bays or any other area office.

North Shore City has six libraries located throughout the city: in Takapuna, Devonport, Browns Bay, Glenfield, Northcote and Birkenhead. The council also operates a mobile library, which visits a number of locations around the city on a regular schedule.

The mobile library vehicle has recently been renewed and is a much more noticeable and functional presence in the city with its bright graphics and up to date facilities.

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