For many years , the Argyle Public Library has quietly served the community from inside the Baldur School. Over the summer months, the library has been on the move and has begun a new chapter by relocating their service to a more visible location on the town’s main street.

Library board members hope that the new location will bring it out of the shadows and into the heart of the community making it a place where residents of all ages can gather, learn and connect.

“An empty building, especially one on the main street does not look good for a town, so the R.M. purchased the former Cafe 23 from the credit union,” commented Argyle councilor and member of the library board, Lana Grenier who also added that the library is jointly funded by the Province and the municipality, with both providing equal funding towards operations.

A massive cleaning effort, along with renovations have been underway in preparation for its anticipated opening next month.

Grenier also shared that one of the primary reasons for the relocation is to make the library more accessible and more visible to residents of the R.M.

“There are a number of people in Argyle who weren’t aware that we had a library at the school,” Grenier explained.

While the school provided a home for many years, its location also came with some limitations. Because of safety protocols required within a public school, the library could not be freely accessed during the day and was limited to evening and Saturday hours.

Currently the library is open Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

One of the biggest changes planned for the new location will be expanded daytime hours during the week. Once the move is complete and the library is fully operational, the board hopes to offer weekday daytime hours, making the library accessible to residents throughout the day. The exact hours have yet to be determined.

The new location will be 100 percent wheelchair accessible, including wheelchair accessible washrooms.

But the move is much more than accessibility; it is to create a space where people of all ages can spend time, learn, explore, be creative and participate.

“The new location will be great for our seniors and will be fabulous for the day care to utilize for activities, programs and workshops,” added Grenier.

As the new location is very large, children will have their own dedicated area which will feature workstations such as molecular, lego and mechanical kits and drawing boards.

A bank of three computer stations, complete with printers, will also be available. The computers were donated by the municipality due to them being deemed obsolete for the municipality’s cyber safety.

A backroom will provide space for a book club and other activities, while additional areas of the building will eventually offer even more opportunities for community use.

“The idea is to attract as many kids and adults as possible and to get the idea across that libraries are not only about reading,” said Grenier.

The former large kitchen area will be worked on during the winter months. When the renovations are complete, that portion of the building will be expected to become a thrift shop, initially providing a space to clear out items left behind from the former restaurant.

Once that project is complete, the space will eventually become available for rent for meetings, special events and other small community gatherings.

Grenier also mentioned a number of other possibilities as the board is hoping that the new location will become much more than a place to borrow books.

“We are really hoping that people, especially children, turn to books,” she said, noting that reading seems to have become a somewhat forgotten exercise.

The move is being made possible in large part through the efforts of local volunteers. Argyle residents, Chloe Mitchell and Crystal Gagnon, board members and the municipal librarian have generously donated many hours this summer helping with the move, renos and painting.

As the anticipated opening date is sometime in October, the library board is also looking beyond the physical move and are asking the community to help shape what comes next.

Residents are encouraged to share their ideas about programs, activities, workshops or other services they would like to see offered in the new space.

“We want to engage with the public and know what they would like to see in the library,” said Grenier.

Anyone with suggestions or ideas can contact any board member or Grenier herself.

After many years inside the walls of the Baldur School, the Argyle Public Library is turning the pages to a new chapter, one that promises to be more visible, more accessible, and if the board gets their way, a whole lot busier.

PHOTO CAPTION: The former Cafe 23 restaurant, which is located on Elizabeth Avenue in Baldur is being transformed into the R.M. of Argyle’s public library.