Peachland library expected to reopen early next month

The Peachland library, heavily damaged when a vehicle crashed through its front window six weeks ago, should reopen in early June.

Repairs to the building are progressing, with new flooring installed and painting being done last week, but the facade may not be fully restored for some time.

“As soon as we can get open we will, even if the front of the building isn’t fully restored. I think we can do something with boarding to at least get people in and using the facility,” Stephanie Hall, executive director of the Okanagan Regional Library, said Thursday.

“I think there’s been a rumour circulating that we’re going to close the branch, but that certainly isn’t the case,” Hall said. “It’s a busy little branch, very well-used. We’re getting it up and running and safe for everyone to use as fast as we can.”

Six people were injured April 5 when a 72-year-old woman lost control of her SUV in the middle of the parking lot in front of the branch, at a strip mall off Clements Crescent.

The vehicle narrowly missed light poles, decorative boulders, a steel railing and a concrete pillar before crashing into the library’s front windows. A 56-year-old Peachland man was the most seriously injured and had to undergo surgery. Including the driver, the five other injured people were all women between the ages of 65 and 72.

No information was available Thursday from Kelowna RCMP on the status of the investigation into the crash.

“There was pretty serious structural damage to the front of the building,” Hall said, adding the time for repairs has been extended by the involvement of insurance companies as well as the owner of the strip mall.

“The flooring had to be replaced because it was damaged beyond what could ever be cleaned or repaired again. And some of the shelves were twisted to nothing,” she said.

Staff at the library have been working out of branches in Westbank and Summerland since the crash.