By Greg Dunlop
The Ottawa Public Library Board has been forced to recommend the closure of one third of its branches in order to meet the city’s rigid budget constraints.
The board has been asked to cut out $4 million from its $32.6 million budget and will continue to face strict efficiency targets over the next three years.
Ten branches in urban, suburban and rural locations have been identified for potential closure or reduced services.
The Ottawa Public Library employs more than 400 full-time staff, and according to a 2007 survey, has the second highest user satisfaction rate of any city service, behind only fire services.
Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder, who also chairs the library board, says the library has been put in a compromising position.
“Libraries always seem to be targeted and that is unfortunate because every branch is the heart and soul of the community it serves,” she says.
Harder argues that libraries are the one civic space where everyone is equal and welcome.
“Our budget only represents 1.5 per cent of the city’s budget. It is ridiculous to cut something which costs such a small amount and yet provides a service that 80 per cent of the people surveyed ranked as the most important service the City provides.”
It is a sentiment echoed by Charlene Elgee, secretary of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library, who is pessimistic about the possible branch closures.
“What it means in terms of community is that they have diminished access to those resources. It doesn’t mean they won’t get them, but they have to go further for it.”
Elgee insists that even though we’ve entered the Internet age, libraries are not dead.
“We seem to do this quite often in December – fighting for the library. We know they are good, we know they are valuable so we shouldn’t have to keep fighting a constant battle for them.”
But it’s not all bad news for inner city bookworms.
At a news conference last week Mayor Larry O’Brien said it was unacceptable to cut city services such as libraries, community centres and transit to achieve his promised tax freeze.
One of the board’s priorities awaiting budget approval is a $38 million project to build a new central library that will incorporate the Municipal Archives.
The lease on the current archives site at 111 Sussex Dr. has been deemed unsuitable and will not be renewed beyond 2010.
Last month, council approved a recommendation for debate during the budget process which would result in the construction of an archives and library technical facility by the end of 2010.
Construction is likely to begin in 2011 with an aim to open the building around 2016.