Riverside Public Library closed for renovations

by Sandee Nho

The Riverside Public Library will be stopping their programs and services for four days due to renovations.
The changes in this branch include re-aligning the location of the staff desks and allowing customers to do self-checkouts. In April, the library board approved $50,000 towards renovating the Riverside Public Library branch. The renovations started on Oct. 15 and the branch will re-open on Oct. 20.

Nancy Peel, manager of public services at the Windsor Public Library said, “Everything is geared to customer service. But in order to improve customer service we have to improve the working conditions of the staff.”

The new self-checkout stations will eliminate waiting times for customers as well as free staff for more programs. Librarians at the Riverside Public Library will be available to interact in their community more often.

Riverside library currently has their ventilation system running through the desks. The high costs of the renovations are due to the re-routing of the system into the floor of the building. These changes will benefit customers and staff of the branch.

Lauren Robinet, 19, studying English language and literature at the University of Windsor frequents the library.

“I think that the self checkout option will definitely reduce the waiting times for us. All the other library branches should have them. Students and families can only benefit with these new machines.” Said Lauren Robinet, 19, studying English language and literature at the University of Windsor.

This is the third branch in the Windsor area to undergo renovations. Remington and South Walkerville have already received attention. Peel said other branches will be receiving the same attention from the board.

”It’s a cycle, once we get to every one of the 10 branches we’ll go back to the first one again and look at what it needs,” said Peel.

Programs scheduled during the week will be cancelled, but the external book return will still be available for customers.