Exterior of the new library at Aberdeen Mall. (Photo via Thompson-Nicola Regional Library)

A new interim library at the Aberdeen Mall food court in Kamloops is expected to be open by the end of November.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library has been working to get the 352-square-foot space ready, after the TNRD Board approved the one-year lease in mid-August.

“Big changes on the inside,” the TNRL said in a Facebook post. “Our electrical closet is complete, lighting and ceiling tiles are mostly in, and drywall and flooring has been installed. ”

“Next up: paint! Then we can begin unpacking the fun stuff- brand new library collections!”

The TNRD says this is the first additional library that will open Kamloops since 1974. It is meant to be a stopgap measure as work to build a new full-service library in southwest Kamloops continues.

“In the meantime, we want to be better able to serve our residents here in Kamloops and so having a presence in south Kamloops is important,” Chief Librarian Judy Moore told Radio NL in August. “This is a jumping-off point for what we hope is bigger things ahead.”

The new library will only be staffed during peak times, with self-serve options like lockers so people can pick up books, a book vending machine, and additional return drop boxes available during regular mall hours.

“This little (storefront) library will also have a book drop, it would have to hold lockers for outside of our hours of operation as well as a vending machine,” Moore added.

“Inside of the space, we’re imagining that we’ll have a retail-focused library offering, so bestsellers, whether that be children’s books, adults, teens, some audio/visual cookbooks, but really popular lending materials.”

TNRL staff touring the new library at Aberdeen Mall. (Photo via Thompson-Nicola Regional Library)