The new library is expected to open in mid-2018. More than 2,000 people visited the library each month. 

The project will create more library floor space, with meeting rooms accessible outside of opening hours. 

An additional rear accessible entrance near car parking is being created to provide safer access to the facility. 

City of Ballarat Director Community Development Neville Ivey said extended outreach services and extra staff at the Ballarat and Wendouree libraries would be available during the closure. 

“The Sebastopol Library Redevelopment Project will see the ageing Albert Street building transformed into a vibrant community hub with provisions for cultural, learning and recreational programs,” he said. 

“This redevelopment also includes refurbishment of the Maternal and Child Health consultation and waiting rooms, which will provide better integration with the library area.”

“There is capacity at both the Ballarat and Wendouree libraries to cater for additional users during the entire period of the refurbishment, and staff from the Sebastopol Library will be also be working at these library branches.”

The project is funded by a $600,000 contribution from the state government’s Living Libraries Program, with $2.35 million from the City of Ballarat.

The library will have increased opening hours when reopened. It was open for 15.5 hours each week throughout 2017.

A Library Outreach location for borrowers to collect holds, return items and have access to the Outreach Library resources will commence on January 4 at the Ballarat Community Health office in Sebastopol each Thursday between 2-4pm.

“The Home Library Service will also take on extra patrons who have limited mobility,” Mr Ivey said. 

Some high-demand library resources from the Sebastopol Library will be relocated to other libraries in the system, while much of the collection will go into storage.