Thunder Bay Library CEO pitches more programming space, longer hours as benefits of new central library

A new model that includes a central library branch and fewer neighbourhood branches would lead to more programming space and longer hours of operation, a new report from the Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL) states.

The library released its 2024 Master Facilities Plan on Monday. It provides more details on proposed new library models, which would include a new central library at Intercity Shopping Centre.

The report includes three options for library models:

• Keeping the status quo, maintaining the four existing branches (Waverley, Mary JL Black, County Park and Brodie).
• Building a central library, closing the Brodie branch, and leaving the Waverley, Mary JL Black and County Park branches open. 
• Building the central library, closing the Brodie and County Park branches, with the remaining branches unaffected.

Status quo costly

"Some of the really interesting financials that came out of this is that to maintain the status quo, the cost of that actually meets or is more expensive than to actually invest in a new facility like the Central Library," TBPL CEO Richard Togman said. "Those capital costs of maintaining our old, aging buildings are really high."

The report says keeping the status quo would require an investment of about $9.4 million in the city's existing library buildings and about $7.6 million in annual operating costs.

The second option, meanwhile, would require ongoing annual operating costs of about $8.1 million and the third option would come in at about $7.6 million.

Both the second and third options would provide much more programming space, and longer operating hours, than the library now offers.

The city is being asked to contribute about $8.5 million to the construction of the central library, as well, which Togman said would be matched by the library through fundraising and grants.

"From an operating cost perspective, we know that the library system right now is struggling," Togman said. "We're buckling under some serious pressures.

"Moving to a new model or example, for example, one that has three branches and neighbourhood branch on each side of town, and a central Library, will actually be cheaper to run than the current system."

Accessible central location 

Another benefit is accessibility, Togman said, as the proposed central branch at Intercity Mall is accessible from major roadways, via city transit and multi-use trails, and offers plenty of free parking.

TBPL head librarian Ruth Hamlin-Douglas said the existing library branches have limited space for programming and collections.

"There's been a lot of changing collections for libraries," she said. "We're all used to books, DVDs, magazines. But there's all these other things people want to borrow. We see other libraries getting into things like memory kits to help seniors with dementia.

"There's a decision now — what do you give up to add in? Sometimes there's nothing to give up. So with more space, we'd be able to offer a greater variety of collections to the community." 

Togman said the TBPL will present the report to city council in July.

"Our community deserves a really great library," Hamlin-Douglas said. "We have a very good library, but we're constrained in what we're able to offer because of our spaces.

"We want the community to have this space where they can access the resources they need, connect with the community partners they need, and really be able to settle in and spend their time together."

The full report is available on the library's website.