New library set to open in Sooke

New library set to open in Sooke
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The new library in Sooke is expected to open the week of Feb. 21, according to the Vancouver Island Regional Library. (Photo credit: VIRL)

When it comes to libraries in Sooke, a new chapter is about to begin.

According to the District of Sooke, construction is nearly complete on a brand new library in Sooke and Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is expecting to open the new facility the week of Feb. 21.

Located on Wadams Way, the new 13,500 square-foot library is double the size of the old library on Anna Marie Road and will house approximately 35,000 items.

“As anyone who has visited the Sooke region in recent years can attest, the community is developing quickly and is only poised to continue its growth,” Sooke Mayor, Maja Tait, said in a press release. “Beloved though it was, the old library simply did not have enough space to meet community expectations any longer. We know that vibrant, well-used libraries are important indicators of healthy communities — when the doors open and the public experiences it for themselves, all will understand how this new library marks an important milestone in our community’s evolution.”

The new library, according to the District of Sooke, has been built with a number of environmentally-friendly measures and features such as electric vehicle charging stations, high-capacity underground bicycle parking as well as a solar shading device to prevent solar heat in the summer and allow heat gains in the winter. It has also been built in alignment with the Wood First Initiative, which sources local, sustainably procured wood, and features a roof that has the ability to capture rainwater and then divert it to an absorbent rock pit.

“This project has been a priority for successive boards and to see it so close to completion speaks to the commitment and dedication of many passionate people,” Gaby Wickstrom, chair of the VIRL board of trustees, said in a press release. “

Though the library will open later this month, grand opening celebrations are planned for later in March.

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