City bookworms are being reminded that the Tauranga Library is soon to close for a month as part of a relocation plan.

Tauranga Library's current Willow St site will close for good from Monday, March 7, and the library will re-open at He Puna Manawa on Monday, April 4.

The city-based library is temporarily joining the Tauranga City Council's Customer Service Centre at He Puna Manawa, located between Devonport Rd and Grey St, while the civic precinct is redeveloped.

The move is one of the final stages of council's full withdrawal from its Willow St site, before the demolition of existing buildings begins.

TCC community services general manager Gareth Wallis says the temporary closure is needed so the library's extensive collection of resources and books can be carefully relocated and installed at He Puna Manawa.

'The library team has worked hard to make sure this transition can happen in the shortest timeframe possible,” says Gareth.

'We know this temporary closure may be an inconvenience for some people, so we thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”

Libraries manager Joanna Thomas says the transformation taking place at the former Goddards Centre is 'incredible” and is confident the community will enjoy the vibrant and interactive hub when the doors open there in April.

'While this is a temporary solution until the new library and community hub is built within the civic precinct, we see this as a great opportunity to trial ways that we can offer services to our communities in the future."

During the time that the library is closed, all other library services will continue to operate as normal.

Greerton, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa Libraries are accessible to all library card-holders, and the Mobile Library service remains in operation.

The Digital Library can also be accessed by card-holders 24/7.

Items can be returned to Tauranga Library's Willow St site until Sunday, March 27.

For further details about the closure and move, visit the Tauranga City Libraries website.
More information about council's plans to redevelop the civic precinct can be found at: www.tauranga.govt.nz/civicredevelopment