Public talks planned for hush-hush Saskatoon central library proposal

Public consultations are planned for Saskatoon Public Library's proposed "New Central Library Project."

But whether "new" means a new location for the city's downtown library — an option backed in the past by mayor Charlie Clark — or a rejig of the aging Frances Morrison Central Library, remains unclear.

Carol Cooley, SPL's director of libraries and CEO, will be giving city councillors an update on the long-talked-about project on Monday afternoon.

But her office declined to provide details before then.

More power outlets, please

SPL's current strategic plan, meant to chart the organization's path up to the year 2021, does call for "the development of a new central library," including a program and business case plus a capital development plan — terms that suggest starting from the ground up.

But whether it's a new building or not, there's one thing a central branch needs for sure: more power outlets.

"There aren't enough outlets in the current central library," said Hilary Gough, a city councillor who also sits on SPL's board.

"If you look closely when you walk around, you'll see a lot of work that's been done to make the spaces as usable as possible in its current condition, but the reality is we now access our information in new and varied ways that require outlets."

Safe spaces, better accessibility

Another theme running through the strategic plan is the need to "create safe spaces where all individuals feel welcome." 

"Libraries can play a really essential role as spaces, and I think part of the idea behind a new central library is what could a new space provide that a current and older one doesn't and isn't able to," said Gough.  

Better design to accommodate people with disabilities would address another constraint at the Frances Morrison location, she added.

"Building standards were different when it was constructed and we knew less and followed less around best practices for people of all abilities, so that's one element that's a huge priority."

Mixed appetite for new central branch

The public's appetite for a brand new branch was mixed a year ago, according to a poll released at the time by Mainstreet Research.

Forty-one per cent of those polled said they didn't think building a new library in the city's downtown should be a priority for the then-oncoming, now-current city council.

Thirty-seven per cent said it should.

SPL's strategic plan, released two months after the poll, said "there is growing community support for a new central library."

When asked to elaborate on that claim and on whether the library has done polling of its patrons, Kirk Sibbald, SPL's senior marketing and communications specialist, said, "What is stated in the strategic plan is a desired impact for the organization, not a statement of fact.

"There has been no public polling."