The North Kamloops Library will soon be getting a fresh new look, with a major interior refresh set to begin Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library says the branch at 693 Tranquille Rd. will undergo a phased renovation aimed at improving functionality, comfort and overall usability for the community. Planned upgrades include new carpeting and paint throughout the building, a redesigned information desk, and changes to the floor plan that will expand the children’s area and create a newly separated teen space.

According to Margo Schiller, Manager of Kamloops Libraries & Engagement, the work is long overdue.

“We are refreshing the library, giving it a bit of a facelift,” Schiller said. “It’s had minimal updates since it opened back in 2010, so it’s really in need of some new flooring in particular and paint. Those are big pieces.”

Schiller said the original carpet, installed when the library first opened, is now worn and coming up in places, making replacement a priority. Beyond routine maintenance, she says the refresh will better reflect how heavily the space is used — especially by families.

“The North Kamloops Library is a well-used facility by children, with lots of families and daycares coming through,” she said. “With a larger children’s area, we’ll be much better able to meet the needs of the community.”

Renovations will be completed in roughly five to six phases, meaning different parts of the library will be affected at different times. The first phase will focus on the young adult area, much of the children’s section, the programming room and staff work areas.

As a result, portions of the children’s and young adult collections have been boxed up and placed in storage, and programming will be impacted during that phase. Additional collections will be temporarily removed as work progresses through the rest of the building.

“During each phase, there’ll be different impacts,” Schiller explained. “As one phase wraps up, we’ll be able to put materials back before moving into the next area.”

While regular hours of operation will remain unchanged, patrons should expect increased noise at times and reduced access to certain spaces. Meeting rooms will not be available during the project, and washroom access may be limited at times.

To help patrons plan ahead, Schiller encourages people to check tnrl.ca/northkamloopsrefresh.

“Folks can go to tnrl.ca and look at the North Kamloops Library location page,” she said. “We’ve got information on the current phase, what’s being impacted, and some general details about overall access.”

The refresh project is expected to take approximately five to six months, with completion targeted for early summer 2026.

“We greatly appreciate the understanding of our library patrons during this work,” Schiller said. “We really look forward to the results — an improved library space for the North Shore.”

Patrons with questions can also contact the North Kamloops Library directly by phone or email for more information.