The Saanich Centennial library branch will reopen July 22, nearly a year after a broken water pipe flooded the facility, causing $500,000 in damage.
The remediated branch had been scheduled to open in March, but stayed closed when the pandemic led to the shutdown of the entire Greater Victoria Public Library system.
The branch, located in the G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre by the Tillicum Centre mall, will offer only limited services — hold pickups and returns, along with a small selection available for browsing — when it reopens.
Drywall, carpets, and furniture were all replaced after August’s flood. New technology has gone in and staff rooms rebuilt.
Most of the branch’s 60,000 books were not damaged by the flood and were stored at another location. A pop-up library had been running out of the lobby of the recreation centre before the pandemic hit.
Elsewhere, the Juan de Fuca library branch will reopen July 18 and the Central Saanich branch at 1209 Clarke Rd. on July 24.
All three branches will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon for seniors and people with health conditions. The general public can attend from noon to 4 p.m.
Similar to other branches that have reopened, including the Central branch in downtown Victoria, these outlets will allow patrons to collect items on hold. People will be notified when their items are available.
They can return items and can browse a limited selection of books, DVDs, audiobooks on CDs, video games and books to check out.
