City’s central library reopens after 19 months
Scores of kids, parents in tow, celebrated the reopening of Hamilton Central Library in Garden Place yesterday.
Hamilton City Council spent $635,000 to earthquake-proof the elderly building – and library lovers were shut out for 19 long months.
Pretty much all the children came costumed as their favourite fictional characters.
Among the screeching gleefulness were a few council members, as required by official such doings.
Hamilton City Libraries director Rebecca Whitehead was pleased by the turnout.
‘‘We were expecting the central library to open in September,’’ she said.
‘‘So we’re really surprised that the timeline’s come forward a few months and that we could get it open for the school holidays.
‘‘You can see from the kids here that our biggest users are families and kids.’’
Whitehead said although some were frustrated at the nearly two years the library was closed, there was an understanding the building needed to be safe.
Most would not have been able to see much change – the library looks pretty much like it always has.
The only major change Whitehead said people might notice are greater security measures, though she declined to elaborate.
And next year, a coffee vendor will also be set up outside the library, and the front will be opened up to improve visibility and provide a more welcoming feel to the space.
‘‘It’s an opportunity to really activate Garden Place,’’ Whitehead said. ‘‘We’re going to engage more with Garden Place and work more with our awesome neighbours Creative Waikato, who are moving next door, and Hamilton Central Business Association down the way.’’
Brian Squair, member of the Creative Waikato Board and director of Chow:Hill Architects, was keen for collaboration.
‘‘Though they have formal shopfronts in many ways, the work of the library and Creative Waikato is one without walls, potentially bursting out into the public realm, as well as drawing people in,’’ he said.
‘‘I can certainly see Creative Waikato spilling out into Garden Place from time to time in some ways.
‘‘If the Creative Waikato and library fronts could be augmented by a ‘hole in the wall’ espresso outlet and a playground close by, it would provide a cool synergy.’’