This fall, the Coquitlam Public Library’s City Centre branch is getting a fresh new look! As part of this planned refresh project, the branch will receive new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint; creating a brighter, more welcoming space for the community. The refresh will cause some disruptions to the services and collections that the branch offers. Luckily for you, this post will compile all that information and present it to you in a timely and clear manner.
Rather than describing every detail at once, and leaving you to sift through to see how your use of the branch will be affected, this post will be updated with the current status of the Library always at the top. This means this post will act as a rolling account of the refresh, and you can get all the information you need at a glance before heading down to the Library!
Important Details
The refresh will take place from September 22nd–November 14th. Before that, you may notice some extra noise and movement as certain parts of the branch get prepared, but the work will begin in earnest on September 22nd, and should be finished by November 14th.
The refresh will happen in stages, so at some points certain parts of the branch will be inaccessible. The first part of the refresh will see the front of the branch being worked on, followed by the Kids & Teens sections. We will endeavour to make a select part of our collection available at the front as the parts of the branch with shelves get closed off. However the branch's full catalogue will always be available for holds. It will just take longer for those holds to be pulled.
Speaking of borrowing, we're encouraging you to Borrow More from the City Centre branch to make sure you get what you want to borrow, and to help us have fewer items to pack up. This involves doubling our loan period to 42 days on most items. You can find more details here.
Q&A
Will I be able to borrow stuff from City Centre?
Yes. There will be a limited amount of items available at the front of the branch. The rest of the catalogue will be available for you to place a hold on, and pick up at a later date.
How long will picking up my holds take?
This depends on how busy staff are, and where the item is located in storage. Place a hold on the item you would like, and you will get a notice when it's ready. It may not be possible to pick up your item on the same day you placed a hold.
How do I check things out if parts of the branch are closed?
The help desk will move to the back of the branch, and will still be able to check out items for you. But because staff will be busy, we ask that you give our self-checkout app a try. It's really easy to use, and allows you to check out items from any part of the Library. Of course, staff will still be more than happy to help you check out items; It just might take longer than usual.
I returned an item, but my account says I still have it checked out!
We're also taking this opportunity to upgrade our book sorter! However, while it's being installed we will have to check items back in by hand. This means that it will take longer than usual for your returned items to show as such on your account.
Where are all your events happening?
During this time our programs and events are happening at the Poirier branch and out in the community. Double-check the locations of events and programs you register for (or plan to drop in on) to make sure you are headed to the right place.
Can I still use the computers at the City Centre branch?
There will be computers available, but the number of them will be reduced.
I just want to find a place to study or read. How will that be affected?
There will be increased noise and activity along with a reduction in tables, chairs, and study space in general. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee an optimal study environment during the refresh. There's always the Poirier branch at 575 Poirier st., which will be operating as usual during this period.
What about using the printer and photocopier?
The printer (which includes the photocopier) will be unavailable from October 14th–October 26th. This is one of those things that will appear at the top of this post as it happens. We'll let you know when things go offline/are unavailable, and when they come back!
Staff are here to make this as simple as possible, so we thank you in advance for your appreciation and respect as we work hard to improve this space. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the refresh. Just reach out to us in any the following ways:
Email: ask@coqlibrary.ca
Phone: 604-554-7323
Social media: Message us on Facebook and Instagram 9:00 am–4:30 pm, Monday–Friday
Stay tuned to this post for any further details (they'll be at the top)!