Frequently Asked Questions

• 2026 marks Waverley Library's 75th year of service to the community. The original structure was built in 1951 with an addition built in 1973. Few repairs or improvements have been made to the building since that time.
• Required major repairs include:
  • a cracked foundation that is leaking water into the children’s section
  • a main entrance that fails to meet accessibility standards
  • major electrical and HVAC deficiencies
  • a failing elevator system.
• These repairs will require a full closure of the building. While they are being conducted, we will be taking the opportunity to improve the space:
  • a modernized floor plan that makes sense for the way people use the Library today
  • more programming spaces to meet community demand
  • more space for the book stacks and reading nooks
  • new flooring and paint; improved windows and lighting

Improvements at Waverley will take place in 3 phases:

• Phase 1, the construction of mainfloor washrooms, has already begun, and we anticipate the new washroom facilities to open in XXXXXXXXXX.
• Phase 2, which is the design and planning for the larger improvements, began in late 2025 when we began working with an architect & engineering team. At this time, we expect to have detailed timelines for construction to be prepared by the summer.
• Phase 3 - our major improvements - will likely begin in January 2027. Depending on what is uncovered during the course of the work, Phase 3 will last 8 - 12 months.

Some of the work being planned for Waverley is major enough to require that the building be closed:

• restoring the cracked foundation 
• rebuilding the main entrance to meet accessibility standards
• major electrical and HVAC upgrades
• elevator repairs

A detailed timeline is expected to be ready by the summer. Work on the branch is anticipated to begin in January 2027.

The majority of Library staff will be largely unaffected by the Waverley project.

During the branch closure, we will offer extended hours at our other branches. We expect to be able to reassign most of the affected Waverley staff to cover these additional hours. For a few staff who cannot be reassigned, there may be a period of temporary layoff.

Once we can safely re-open Waverley Library, we can bring all of our staff back to work. There will be no permanent layoffs or lost positions. Everyone will be given the opportunity to resume their roles once we can safely have staff back in the branch.

We will maintain access to books, collections, programming, and services throughout any temporary disruption at Waverley Library during construction.

Most of Waverley’s materials will be distributed across the system to remain available to the public. Staff will be reassigned to our other three branches to continue delivering the programs and services residents rely on. Brodie Library, County Park Library, and Mary JL Black Library may see extended hours to support increased demand.

There are two types of expense associated with transformations of this nature.

Structural Repairs

The majority of the investment for the core structural repairs is coming from government sources, including the City of Thunder Bay.

The structural repairs and improvements planned for Waverley Library are expected to cost between $6-$8 million. The final cost has not been determined yet as we are still refining the designs and working through a Class C costing.

Interior Enhancements

Beyond the structural work, a second category of investment shapes how the Library is experienced day to day. Capital funding from government sources does not cover the furniture, toys, computers, and art that patrons use every day. It also does not extend to higher-quality lighting, flooring, partitions for programming rooms, STEM labs, or enhanced accessibility features.

To take Waverley Library from its structural foundation to a public space our community can be truly proud to call its own, we will launch major fundraising efforts, inviting support from both the business community and the public.

We are finalizing the building design to ensure it is both cost-effective and capable of delivering the improvements the community has been asking for. This spring, we will be hosting a public open house to share the final plans and give you a clear picture of what to expect from your new Waverley Library.

At the centre of the redesign is a new Children’s Library, double the size of the current space and comparable in scale to a professional hockey rink, along with a new indoor play area, an expanded collection, and three dedicated programming rooms. The main floor will feature new washrooms, additional public computers, and welcoming spaces. The Friends of the Library bookstore will remain in its current location.

Throughout the building, you will see more natural light through added windows and a new skylight, as well as quiet reading areas and flexible space for community events. An Indigenous Knowledge Centre will sit at the heart of the Library, creating a space for learning, reflection, and connection.

We are grateful to the City of Thunder Bay for providing our core funding. However, core funding does not always pay all the bills or provide a library system that meets the evolving needs of our community. 

Just like the province pays for our hospitals but donations help pay for better medical equipment, enhanced medical services and expanded care, the Library needs donations to help make our Library a place we can truly be proud of. Better children’s facilities, more books, STEM games for youth and large print books for seniors. We need donations to move from bare bones to great.

Your donation is an opportunity to be a part of a true community. A space where our children grow up, where teens come to study, where newcomers come to learn, where families grow and share and where seniors build bridges. The library is where community happens and where we build the foundations for shared prosperity.

We are still working through construction timelines, including how they will affect access to the branch. Some phases of the work will require temporary closures to ensure public safety.

As we work through detailed planning with our architects, engineers, and construction team, we will develop a responsible plan that balances a safe, cost-effective construction schedule with the community’s need for access to the Library.

For the safety of staff and patrons, Waverley Library will likely be closed during critical parts of the construction. During any branch closure, we will offer extended hours at our other branches so that the community can continue to enjoy as much Library access as we can safely provide during Waverley's transformation.

It is not certain at this time how long these major structural repairs will take. Work is anticipated to begin in January 2027. Depending on what is uncovered during the course of the work, we anticipate that a closure might last 8 - 12 months.

You can support the Library and the renovation by:

1. Sharing our story - tell your family, friends and neighbours about all the exciting growth happening at the Library.
2. Donating - Your donation matters and this is a once in a generation opportunity to be a part of a true community building event. Rebuilding a library takes a community and you need to be a part of this important, united effort.
3. Visiting Us - Come out to the Library, visit our open houses, talk to staff and bring your family! Talk to real people from your community that want you to join and be part of something special. The Library brings us all together and being a part of that is something you don’t want to miss.

We will be posting regular updates which lay out the construction timelines, the new layouts, designs and floor plans, architectural drawings showing the new spaces and everything else we can publicly share. 

In the late spring the Library will be hosting public open houses to invite in all members of the community to learn more about our plans, to answer questions face to face and to showcase the amazing improvements happening to Waverley Library.