A brand new library in Campbell River won’t be going ahead as planned — at least not any time soon.

Vancouver Island Regional Library trustees recently voted to not move forward with the construction of a brand new downtown library branch in Campbell River due to “skyrocketing construction and labour costs” stemming from the ongoing pandemic.

VIRL has been planning to construct a brand new two-storey, 20,000 square-foot library on Shoppers Row, replacing the existing library building. A total of $14 million had been budgeted for the project, with $9 million allocated for construction.

As a result of the board’s recent decision, the library will continue to operate out of the existing building on Shoppers Row for the next year on a month-to-month lease.

Gaby Wickstrom, the regional library’s board of trustees chairperson, called the decision a difficult but fiscally responsible one.

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