Hon Dr Richard Worth
Minister Responsible for the National Library
29 April 2009

Govt to scale back National Library revamp

The Government has decided to scale back the revamp of the National Library’s Wellington building but will ensure the nation’s treasures are protected by increasing storage, fixing leaks, upgrading equipment and addressing deferred maintenance.

The revamp is to cost $52 million which will include $35 million in capital spending and $17 million in operational spending over the next four years.

It is a significant reduction from the previously proposed redevelopment plan, which was originally costed at $82 million ($69 million capital plus $13 million operating costs) but has since been costed at about $90 million.

The Minister Responsible for the Library, Dr Richard Worth, said that the Government had been forced to reconsider the previous government's decision in light of the international recession.

However, Dr Worth said the option that had been chosen would address the critical problems the Library faced.

“In recognition of the economic climate, the Government has decided that the full redevelopment option, at a total cost of about $90 million over the next four years, cannot be sustained.

“Instead, the Government will support the funding of improved storage for the National Library’s heritage collection and replacement of critical plant and infrastructure at a budget of approximately $35 million in capital spending, with operational costs of $17 million, over the next four years.”

Dr Worth said doing nothing was not an option as the building was effectively full and failing equipment, substandard storage environments, and water leaks were putting the collections – valued at nearly $1 billion – at serious risk.

“This is a responsible decision which balances the need to protect our nation’s treasures and taonga while taking heed of the fact that we are in the midst of a recession.”

However, the Library’s 95km of collections material would still need to be relocated during the revamp and the Library had assured him that care and protection of the heritage collections would be paramount during the relocation period.

“The Library has already communicated with the research community on access requirements throughout the development period as a reduction in the level of access to its collections during this time is expected. The Library will shortly confirm its general relocation details and access to collections.”

Dr Worth noted that Library staff would be focused on an extensive digitisation programme while out of the building which would improve access by all New Zealanders to the Library’s collections.

The scaled back project would require the design work to be revisited and a fresh resource consent would be sought from Wellington City Council.

ENDS

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