In late 2024, the Nellie McClung Library closed after nearly 50 years in operation for a three-year overhaul. To fill the gap, a smaller express branch has since opened nearby to maintain service in the community.
After a couple weeks of operation, Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock, along with members of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL), toured the new Nellie McClung Express Branch located at 3561 Shelbourne St. on the morning of April 15.
Though smaller in size and with fewer books than the main branch, the express site still delivers many of the core services offered at a full-sized library, explained GVPL chair Shahira Khair.
“This branch is designed for shorter stays and quicker usage,” said Khair. “We don't have as much dedicated study space or as many computers, but all of the collections from the previous branch have been redistributed across the system, so no books were lost in migrating to this space.”
As residents voiced concern over losing their local library, Khair said the express branch was opened to preserve this “treasured community resource.”
“The Nellie McClung branches had been in the community for many, many years, so it's great that we've been able to fill that gap with another express branch just to make sure that the community surrounding the branch didn't feel that loss as deeply.”
After touring the new temporary site, Murdock expressed his excitement for the work put in by GVPL to open the alternate location.
“I'm thoroughly impressed at how the place is used and the minimalist approach,” said Murdock. “It's so effective, and it does not feel at all cramped. It seems like this would be a place where you would find all of the services that you'd expect to find in a [regular] library.”
The original Nellie McClung Library at 3950 Cedar Hill Rd. is slated for demolition this summer. The site will be redeveloped into an 18-storey building that will host the new, two-floor library of up to 30,000 square feet – roughly double the size of the previous facility.
The Nellie McClung Express Branch is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
