April 2, 2024 — Both the City of Sarnia and County of Lambton are gearing up to open the doors to a new library that will serve the east end of the community for years to come.
Specifically, Lambton County Library’s new Clearwater Library at Clearwater Arena on Wellington Street will open its doors to residents on Monday, April 8, 2024, replacing the former Mallroad Library with a newly revitalized space and location.
The new library is strategically positioned, providing increased access to residents living in the east end of the city where growth is projected to occur, ensuring both current and future residents have access to vibrant and modern library facilities. Repurposing an underutilized space on the second floor of the arena, the new Clearwater Library will contribute to the City’s ongoing efforts to transform the Clearwater Arena site into a multi-purpose community hub, serving a wide range of recreation, leisure and education needs. At the same time, operational cost reductions will be realized as the City no longer pays for the lease required by the former Mallroad Location.
“The opening of the new Clearwater Library is good for the community as libraries open the world up and contribute to our lives and quality of life. The most valuable item in our wallet or purse is our library card,” said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.
The successful completion of this project is the result of the collaborative efforts of the City of Sarnia and the County of Lambton. Working under the Division of Responsibilities that guides the partnership to provide library services to the public, the City led the renovation of the facility as building owner to create a space for a community library, while the County outfitted the space with the furnishings, equipment and materials required for the delivery of library services. This unique location will ensure that the new library not only offers an improved experience to existing patrons, but also serves to engage new and diverse audiences due to its co-location with the busy arena and soon-to-open Sarnia Transit terminal.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of Clearwater Library as part of our commitment to providing valued library services to residents,” says Kevin Marriott, County of Lambton Warden. “This shared investment by the City and the County helps us to achieve the recommendations of our recent Joint Library Facilities Review study by offering a larger floor area for learning and community engagement. The new library includes a new program room and private meeting space, a collection of over 11,000 items, an early literacy station for children, public computers and a new self-service kiosk feature. With its strategic location and expanded amenities, Clearwater Library is poised to become a vibrant hub for knowledge, creativity, and connection within our community.”
Operating hours for Clearwater Library will be Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Membership with Lambton County Library also grants access to the library’s online catalogue and a range of electronic resources like online courses, language learning and music streaming, available at www.lclibrary.ca. Visitors to Clearwater Library are reminded to always bring their library card with them to check out items, pick up their reservations using the new Holds Pick-Up area, and to use public computers.
An official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held with Mayor Mike Bradley and County of Lambton Warden Kevin Marriott at 9 a.m. on April 9.
A Community Open House featuring special programming will be scheduled for the summer. Details will be announced when finalized by the County of Lambton and City of Sarnia. For more information about the Clearwater Library please visit lclibrary.ca.