Raglan’s revamped larger library and council office at 7 Bow St, reopened this morning (28th July). WDC staff and contractors had been busy last week moving books and furniture into the building. A much larger library area (20 sq m) has been provided by moving the front windows and door forward. The Raglan place making group has worked on the internal layout of the library and its fittings. This morning library customers and WDC ratepayers were making good use of the improved facility.
Skypers are well catered for outside the library with a special seating area and coffee bean sacks provided as cushions. That should keep them clear of the entrance that was such a real problem before. The building has two accessible routes up to its main entrance. One teething issue to be solved is that the bike rack outside the entrance was moved away to provide room for one of the accessible ramps. A Council spokesperson said, “The bike rack is expected to be reinstated within the next couple of weeks, it is just having some minor alterations made to it.” Another problem caused by the extension is the drinking fountain which can now only be reached through a street garden.
Waikato District Council General Manager Customer Support, Sue Duignan, thanked the Raglan community for their patience throughout the project.
“It’s great to be at this stage in the project where we can almost unveil the new space to its users.. It’s looking good and we are excited to have an enthusiastic group of Raglan place makers working energetically to make the interior library space an interesting and creative one.”
Work began on the building in March 2014 to fix a leaking roof and create more floor space. The roof leaked badly in a severe storm in 2010 causing the destruction of many books. Lobell Construction undertook the work for Waikato District Council for $300,000.
Good to see this much-needed facility provided for Raglanders.