The Calgary Public Library has opened the doors of its newest branch following a Saturday morning ribbon cutting ceremony.
“You come into this new library, it’s obviously extremely exciting,” ‘said Ward 8 councillor Evan Woolley. “It represents the future of what our library system is going to be and is already today.”
The Nicholls Family Library, named to honour Brenda, Grieg and their son Alex following the family’s million dollar donation to the Calgary Public Library, is located within the Westbrook CTrain station.
“We think it’s the way of the future as the city continues to improve and expand its transit,” said Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO. “We think the library is a great partner. It’s the kind of thing that will bring people to these areas.”
In addition to the residents of the neighbouring communities, the library is expected to draw from the 32,000 Calgary Transit users that ride the rails below the building each day.
The Nicholls Family Library is situated a short distance from the library it replaces, the Shaganappi Library, which permanently closed on April 11.
“We had over 200 people walk all of the books from the old library at Shaganappi to this new library at Westbrook,” said Woolley.
In addition to the lending of books and audio/video recordings, the new library offers a café, a computer bar that lends Chromebooks and complimentary community meeting rooms.
