Fort library opens as salishan Place offers visitors first glimpse

The historical exhibits, art, and Indigenous cultural displays aren’t all in place quite yet, but the process of opening Langley’s salishan Place by the River officially began on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The building’s grand opening allowed residents to take a look around at the facility, from its museum and archival spaces to a theatre, banquet room, and the new location of the Fraser Valley Regional Library branch.

While the Langley Centennial Museum was primarily a museum, the new facility is to function as an arts, culture, and heritage centre.

The Fort Langley Library officially opened in its new space, with locals able to borrow and reserve books and the many other items the library lends, from telescopes to radon detectors to ukuleles.

Library supervisor Janine Chow said the staff were all excited about the new permanent location. For many years, the library was located in the Fort Langley Community Hall, and then for more than a year it’s been in a “pop up” location in the old Centennial Museum site across the street from salishan.