Govt cuts back cost of National Library revamp

The Government has decided to scale back the revamp of the National Library's building in Wellington but says it will ensure the nation's treasures are safely kept.

The revamp, initiated by the previous government, was costed at $82 million.

Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth, who is responsible for the library, said today that had risen to about $90 million.

The revamp will now be carried out for $52 million - $35 million in capital spending and $17 million in operational spending over the next four years.

Dr Worth said the Government had been forced to reconsider the revamp because of the international recession.

It would address the critical problems the library faced, he said.

"The Government will support the funding of improved storage for the National Library's heritage collection and replacement of critical plant and infrastructure," Dr Worth said.

The building was effectively full and doing nothing was not an option because of failing equipment, substandard storage and water leaks that were putting collections valued at nearly $1 billion at serious risk.

- NZPA