New library options laid out for Cambridge

Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Cambridge’s bursting-at-the-seams library has six new options on the table, including a new build.

The growing town’s library needs to be about three times its size to meet current demand, Waipā District Council said - that’s based on preliminary work ahead of a feasibility study.

Several of the six options being investigated would also include a community hub - Mayor Susan O’Regan says libraries are “essentially the living rooms of our towns”.

Options include various levels of expansion of the current library - none of which would incorporate a hub - to moving into an existing Cambridge building or a purpose-built facility.

So far, there’s been strong support for the addition of a community hub, Waipā District Council community services manager Brad Ward said.

“As part of the feasibility study, we’ll be looking at the options of a community hub including various services such as a museum or heritage component, community creative spaces, i-SITE, and Council customer service centre. All things that will bring our community together in one central space.”

Mayor Susan O’Regan said libraries are critical in communities and “these days are very rarely built in isolation”.

“A library’s offering goes far beyond books. Libraries are essentially the living rooms of our towns and need to provide a range of comforts our community can benefit from, together”.

Size-wise, the current library is about 740m² but the council said it’d need to be 2100m² to meet current demand.

Rapid population growth means the council expects to need 2600m² in another 20 years.

The library options will be refined and costed over the next few months before being discussed with the community in the council’s Long-Term Plan consultation process in 2024.

The six options for Cambridge’s library

1. Status quo

2. Expand the current library – remain within one level of 23 Wilson Street, using some of the existing council office space (library only)

3. Expand the current library – expand over two levels of 23 Wilson Street, using some of the existing council office space (library only)

4. Expand the current library – extend the 23 Wilson Street building to enable the expansion (library only)

5. Relocation / renovation – move the library and utilise an existing building within Cambridge (library and community hub)

6. Build – build a new purpose-built facility at another location in Cambridge (library and community hub)