New Clearwater Library in Sarnia is open for business

Predictions heard at the dawn of the digital age about the decline of public libraries were wrong, says Lambton County’s warden.

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Kevin Marriott cut a ribbon with Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley Tuesday at Clearwater Library, one of 25 Lambton County Library branches, which opened to the public Monday.

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“I think 30 years ago, when computers and the internet were hitting the public, there was a feeling that libraries would be not needed anymore,” Marriott said. “But if anything, it’s the opposite.”

A former second-floor community hall at Clearwater Arena was renovated by the city to one of three county library branches in Sarnia. It replaces the Mallroad Library that operated for many years in leased space on Lambton Mall Road and closed late last year.

The county library’s more than 20,760 cardholders borrowed nearly 530,000 items and accessed more than 524,000 online service items in 2023. Use of online library services was up from 2022, according to a recent county cultural report.

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“Libraries have taken a surge in popularity,” Marriott said.

There still are Lambton residents without reliable access to online information, often because they either can’t get or can’t afford reliable broadband service, he said.

The new Clearwater Library, like other county branches, has public access computers. Last year, those computers drew more than 20,700 users, while public wi-fi at the sites was used more than 21,600 times.

“I think it turned out better than anyone envisioned when we started talking about it, which is how you like to see things go,” Marriott said. “It’s going to serve this part of Sarnia well.”

In Lambton County, municipalities provide space for library branches and the county provides staff, books and other materials to run them.

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The new Clearwater location was the result of a nearly $900,000 city renovation project, with the county providing $180,000 in shelving, a service desk, other furniture, security gates, signs and IT needs.

Originally expected to open in mid-January, construction took longer to complete.

“The delay was unfortunate, but I think everyone’s used to delays now,” Marriott said. “Hopefully this is the last of the delays from the effects of COVID.”

Andrew Meyer, the county’s cultural services general manager, said the new branch has twice the space of the Mallroad site, “which really opens the doors to new opportunities for programming.”

It also has its own entrance at the front of the arena, an elevator and a separate room for programs and private meetings, which Mallroad lacked.

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“Another great feature is just the location,” he said.

Some 500 people visited new library on opening day Monday, he said.

“We’ve got a terrific staff. . . eager to reconnect with bosses,” Meyer said. “We’re really excited about this new space.”

The twin-pad arena and nearby playing fields are busy and a nearly $3-million Sarnia Transit bus terminal being built on the arena’s front lawn is almost ready to open, said David Jackson, Sarnia’s engineering and operations general manager.

“Right now, we’re just waiting for the shelters to get delivered,” he said. “We’re hoping to be open in a month or two, but we want to wait until the shelters are in.”

Sarnia Transit buses are still using a terminal in “tight space” on Murphy Road, he said.

“It looks really nice,” Jackson said of the new transit facility. “We’re never had a real, formal terminal (in Sarnia).”

The arena terminal will offer more space for buses and passengers, and access to arena washrooms, he said.

Construction is expected to begin this year on a second new bus terminal at George and Vidal streets downtown, Jackson said. “We’re looking to have that open by the end of the year.”

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