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The Stanley A. Milner Library will be delaying its opening, according to a tweet from the Edmonton Public Library on Saturday.

“We’ve been working hard to make our downtown library the best it can be, and want to ensure when we open our doors it’s as special as we’ve always imagined,” the tweet read.

“We’ll share a new opening date in the new year.” Tweet This

Hello library lovers, our #ThinkTank is almost done but we need more time. We‘ve been working hard to make our downtown library the best it can be, and want to ensure when we open our doors it’s as special as we’ve always imagined. We'll share a new opening date in the new year. pic.twitter.com/k6SRrSRsYM — Edm Public Library (@EPLdotCA) December 14, 2019

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The original date set for the downtown library’s opening was planned for Feb. 14, 2020.

In a statement, Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez said the project should be completed by spring 2020:

“The complexities involved in a renovation project of this size have meant things are taking a little longer than anticipated,” the statement said. “We will be open within months of our original hopes, and still within the estimated project completion date of spring 2020.”

“We are excited to make the Milner Library very special, and when it opens it will be a must-visit destination in the heart of downtown.

We will share a new opening date in the new year once we have more details,” said Martinez. Tweet This

The library was closed on Dec. 31, 2016 to undergo a major renovation including an exterior makeover, asbestos removal, mechanical and electrical upgrades and floor-to-ceiling second-floor windows.

READ MORE: Unexpected issues raise cost of Stanley Milner Library renovations

Then in 2017, city council was told that unexpected problems would raise the initial price from $69 million to $84.5 million.

A rendering of downtown Edmonton’s Stanley A. Milner Library. Courtesy, EPL

The library’s official city website said Saturday the grand opening of the revitalized building will take place in spring 2020.

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