The Wellington City Council says demolition is one option for the city's central library, which has been closed due to its earthquake risk.
The library was abruptly closed in March after the council received an engineering report revealing serious concerns about how it would perform in another earthquake. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The library was closed suddenly in March, when an engineering report revealed serious concerns about its safety in a big earthquake.
Mayor Justin Lester said the council was considering four options.
He said the first three are to strengthen it to either 100 percent, 67 percent or 34 percent of code, each with a different cost.
The fourth option is to pull the 28-year-old building down and build it anew.
Mr Lester said in the meantime two temporary branches have been set up in the city.
Before the closure, he said 3000 people, including 500 children, were visiting the site every day.