29 Jun 2016

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New Zealand’s first large-scale social and health services centre will open at Eastgate Mall next week, and the neighbouring Linwood Library is expecting big spin-offs.

The Loft will see agencies Aviva, the Family Help Trust, He Waka Tapu, New Zealand Red Cross and the Linwood Medical Centre providing their specialist services from one shared space on the first floor of EastgateMall.

Together with the Linwood Library, the service hub will spread over 3000 m2.

LinwoodLibraryTeamLeader Alan Seatonsaid the development was an opportunity to connect with more people in the community.

“It’s a really good opportunity for Linwood Library. In terms of foot count we’re currently the third busiest library in the network and we are only going to get busier with this development, so we’re excited,” Mr Seaton said.

“The library currently sits on the first floor of Eastgate Mall. Customers have to go out of their way to get to the library – it’s a destination.

“With the Loft development next to us, we’re expecting to have more people visit the library to use our collections, our services and participate in our programmes. We also expect new memberships for our free services. We have a spacious areawith comfortable seating, an inviting atmosphere, and wifi, so we expect people may visit the library before or after their appointments.”

The Loft will have more than 80 full time staff members in the social service space, and 35 in the primary health care space, supporting a client base of around 3,500 people.

Mr Seaton said the library would use the opportunityto promote the many resources on offer.

"We’re increasing the health book collection we have by about 300 titles, and we’ll increase our health displays, piggy backing off health initiatives. For example, during Men's Health Month we'll have a display featuring resources that relate to thatarea.”

Find out more onThe Loft and Linwood Library.