EPL.ca: The Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) is Moving to Serve You Better

The Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) is Moving to Serve You Better

Remodeling Update Photo Gallery

(click a thumbnail to see the larger picture)

Initial Demolition Photo Gallery

We're moving… and we'll be bigger and better than ever!

We have outgrown our location in Abbottsfield Mall so this summer we will be moving just a block away to 3410 - 118 Avenue. The relocation and expansion provides EPL greater opportunity to serve our communities by allowing greater access, more space and increased visibility for the Library.

As an active community partner, we believe the move will also help in the revitalization of the area. At over 8,500 square feet, the new location will be almost twice as big as the current branch.

Features of the new location include:
additional public computer stations
an expanded program room
a larger children's area
increased reading areas for adults and teens
a freshwater aquarium and fireplace
a quiet study room
improved natural light

Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) Remodeling photos - PDF Slideshow Presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are we moving out of Abbottsfield Mall?

The Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) is moving to a new location to allow for a much needed expansion as demand for our programs and services continues to grow. The current location inside Abbottsfield Mall is only 4,669 square feet and unfortunately we were unable to expand in our existing location. The relocation and expansion provides EPL a fantastic opportunity to better serve the community by allowing greater access, more space and increased visibility for the library.

The Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) serves a population of over 13,000 with 16 schools in the area. In 2009, total visits to the library exceeded 160,000 while circulation of materials increased 15.5% (versus 2008) to 171,201 items.

2. Where will the new Branch be located?

The Penny McKee branch has been an integral part of the community for 13 years and we wanted to stay nearby, so we're only moving a block away to 3410 – 118 Avenue.
Click here for a map to our new location.

3. How big is the new location?

The new location is over 8,500 square feet – almost twice as big as the current branch.

4. What are some of the features of the new location?

Some of the great features our new, expanded location will offer are:

More public computer stations
Larger children's area
Bigger program room
Expanded reading areas for adults and teens
Quiet study room
Freshwater aquarium and fireplace
Natural light through large exterior windows

5. When will the new location open?

We have tentatively scheduled August 23, 2010 as our opening date. Please come back to this site for updates.

6. How will library service be affected during the move?

A relocation and expansion of this magnitude necessitates a degree of service interruption at the Penny McKee branch. However, we will endeavor to minimize the impact to our valued library customers. EPL also has 16 other branches across the City that are open and ready to serve your needs. Please visit www.epl.ca/EPLBranches for branch locations as well as services you can access online.

Reduced Services at Current Location

From August 3 to 7 the branch will only have the following services available:

Information services
Public internet computers
Holds pick up
Newspapers
Item returns

There will be no access to the collection while it is being packed and moved.

Temporary Branch Closure

The Penny McKee Branch (Abbottsfield) will be closed from August 8 to 22 to allow time to move into our new location.

Returning Materials

While we are closed, there will be no book drop at the current location. Please return all library materials
to other nearby locations, including:

Highlands Branch
6710 - 118 Avenue
Tel: (780) 496-1806

Londonderry Branch
110 Londonderry Mall, 137 Avenue & 66 Street
Tel: (780) 496-1814

For all EPL branch locations, please visit www.epl.ca/EPLBranches.

Placing Materials on Hold

You can still place materials on hold while we are closed and have them sent to another branch. Just visit www.epl.ca and log into your account using your library card and PIN. When you place a hold for an item, simply select the next closest branch for pick up. You can also change the pickup location for any holds that you have placed previously, or suspend your holds until the branch re-opens.

Programs

There will be some small disruptions for our programs in August 2010:

Children participating in the Summer Reading Club – Destination Jungle will need to visit another branch to have their log sheet stamped and to enter the draw for prizes.
The weekly Sing, Sign, Laugh and Learn storytime will continue at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday's, but the August 3 and August 10 sessions will be held at the Abbottsfield Recreation Centre, 3010 – 119 Avenue
SRC 2010 - From Balloons to Animals in a Twist –August 5, 2:00 p.m. This program will be held next to the food court in the Abbottsfield Shoppers' Mall.
SRC 2010 - Live Reptiles & Amphibians – August 19, 11:00 a.m. This program will be held next to the food court in the Abbottsfield Shoppers' Mall.

We will be offering a full slate of programs for the whole family starting at the end of September 2010. Check out the website for more information! www.epl.ca