After about 40 years in the Waterford Valley Mall, the Michael Donovan Public Library in St. John’s is turning the page.

A sugary scent filled the one-room library as staff brought out cake for patrons on Saturday, who came together to check out books and colour pictures one last time.

St. John’s Public Libraries manager Susan Prior called the event a “see-you-soon party.” Newfoundland and Labrador’s library board is working with the provincial government to secure a new location. The lease for the Topsail Road unit expires at the end of this month.

“Our main goal here is to get into a larger space where we can have a programming area,” Prior told CBC News.

“That’s what this space lacks.”

The library has been a staple in the west end of St. John’s for four decades, providing space and resources for what Prior said is a large clientele. She assured the neighbourhood will have a new public library as soon as possible.

“As much as things have changed, [libraries] are still a really integral institution within the community,” she said.

A tender will soon be issued to keep the institution alive, according to St. John’s West MHA Keith White.

White told CBC News he’s been having productive conversations with Education Minister Paul Dinn, as well as officials from the province’s Department of Infrastructure.

While it’s up to investors to pitch their properties, White said something close to the Village Mall would “check all the boxes,” given it’s on a major bus route and close to several schools.

“I’m optimistic that in the coming months, the library will be found,” White said.

In the meantime, Prior said anyone with items checked out from the Michael Donovan can return them to any St. John’s area library, the closest being the Ross King Memorial Public Library in Mount Pearl.

But regular patrons told CBC News they’ll miss having this library close to home.

“I’ve been coming here since they opened, I suppose,” said David Mills.

“It’s going to be breaking an old habit to have to go somewhere else.”

However, Mills said, self-proclaimed compulsive readers are excited to avail of a bigger space whenever it opens.

Source: CBC Newfoundland & Labrador