The Thunder Bay Public Library is asking the public to help them create a service model for the 21st century.
It has launched a survey to get thoughts on having an centralized branch in the intercity area but as Library CEO Richard Togman explains, it would also reorganize the physical assets of the library.
“So we know that one central branch would never be enough, we’re not proposing a central branch to the detriment of neighbourhood branches, but its part of a reconfiguration.”
One of the locations for a central branch is Intercity Shopping Centre, which Togman notes would allow for better accessibility, transit access and parking.
Currently the TBPL does have at least one of its branches, County Park, built into County Fair Plaza, but according to Togman the idea of moving to a large mall location is something that is quite common in other jurisdictions across the Western world, as they tend to become high traffic areas.
“We know that its a vibrant space in our community life. The mall is struggling to a degree in the fact that it hasn’t had a major anchor tenant in quite a few years, and we see moving a main central library branch into that space as a way to reinvigorate the library system, reinvigorate the mall, and really reinvigorate the heart of our community.”
How this will be implemented however, comes down to a final decision by the city.
“It really comes down to what level of funding the city deems appropriate and the city and the community feels like it wants to distribute our library branches across the city,” says Togman. “All options are on the table, sort of the status quo option is keeping the four buildings as they are, that’s certainly something the community can choose to endorse.”
But he believes what the library system is proposing is the better way forward.
Part of the reasoning behind the change also involves how libraries have evolved over the years as well as the physical infrastructure elements of the the city’s four branches, including two, Waverly and Brodie, which were built in 1951 and 1912 respectively.
An audit was conducted on the operational needs and physical infrastructure of the facilities on whether or not they were capable of meeting standards.
“Short answer is no, we were facing a lot of challenges from a financial point of view.”
The data sets looked at both safety and from an evolution of programing standpoint, where libraries are no longer just a repository for physical books but also have put a focus on programming and services.
The survey will be available this month then officials from the library will appear before council with the findings of the survey on June 26th.
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