Sarnia’s Mallroad Library is set to close its doors on October 31.
The move comes as work is underway to open a new library on the second floor of Clearwater Arena at 1400 Wellington Street in Sarnia in the new year, according to the County of Lambton.
Library patrons will be able to return items to the book return bin only until November 9, 2023, and are then asked to use neighbouring libraries in downtown Sarnia, Bright’s Grove, and Point Edward.
“As part of its Division of Responsibilities, the City of Sarnia holds the responsibility to provide physical spaces to house libraries, and the County of Lambton holds the responsibility to operate library services,” a news release noted this week. “This new library will provide advantages to both the City of Sarnia and the County of Lambton, and also to library patrons, as well as serve an area of projected future growth in the City.
“The new Clearwater Library will include a program room that can also be used as a private meeting space which currently is unavailable at Mallroad Library’s current location,” said Darlene Coke, Manager, Library Services. “We are also excited to be physically closer to a bustling residential neighbourhood and eager to serve the needs of college students, families visiting the arena, and area residents.”
The new Clearwater Library is tentatively set to open in January 2024 and will operate with the same hours of operation in place at the existing Mallroad Library.
Lambton County Library has been operating Mallroad Library from its Lambton Mall Road location for 43 years and it circulates the second-highest number of items.
In 2022, the library circulated 92,947 items, and in a typical week welcomes 998 visits.