Slow process

New Kentville branch opening slated for June

The transformed Kentville branch of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library is going to open some time in June.

“The process is slower than any of us wanted,” says Kentville’s director of recreation and parks Rachel Bedingfield.

According to Bedingfield, waiting for grant proposals and tenders to roll out, as well as networking among the various partners, is taking time.

The town spokesperson said the owner of the over 100-yearold United Church, John Parsons, is keenly interested in the success of the redevelopment of the sanctuary.

Bedingfield added that she’s visited the new community room and found “it took my breath away.”

In November, the library branch was announced as the winner of this year’s This Place Matters competition worth a prize of $40,000 prize. Close to $60,000 in crowd funding was also raised.

The prize money was intended for the children’s area in the new library.

Architect Lisa Tondino of Houdini Design Architects had hoped the branch would be ready to open in May. Kentville staff moved the branch into another portion of the former church last August.