CCCA seeks opinions on core library services

By Amey Humphries

The Centretown Citizens Community Association is trying to gauge public opinion in central Ottawa about whether the planned westward shift of the city’s main library from Metcalfe Street to LeBreton Flats should result in the opening of a new branch library in the downtown core.

The CCCA has developed a survey to ask area residents whether they want local library services to remain in the core once the proposed new Central Library is opened at 557 Wellington St.

The survey itself is described as a follow-up “on suggestions made by Mayor (Jim) Watson and Councillor (Catherine) McKenney regarding the possibility of a mini or branch library for Centretown once the Main Library on Metcalfe St. is closed.”

McKenney, councillor for Somerset ward, has been vocal about her disapproval of the planned Central Library site, arguing that is scheduled to be built too far from the heart of the downtown community.

“I believe that it is essential that library services are maintained in Centretown given that it is the densest part of the city where walking is the dominant mode of travel,” she said in an email.

The CCCA said it is trying to maintain a neutral stance.

“If the majority of people don’t want (branch library services to remain in Centretown), why pursue it? We do represent all of Centretown,” said Michelle Kirkman, co-coordinator of the CCCA library committee.

However, she did admit there are strong feelings among many Centretown residents about the issue, and Kirkman herself has been critical of the Wellington Street location because of accessibility challenges.

“A lot of people are upset,” she said of the planned LeBreton Flats location for the city’s new library hub. “We feel that something is being taken away.”

Ottawa Public Library officials said they were unavailable to answer questions about the issue, but pointed to their board meeting minutes for previous statements about the new Central Library.

“We did work to keep (the main branch) in Centretown, so we can’t deny that we were quite disappointed,” Kirkman said.

The idea of the survey is to see if the majority of Centretown share a desire for branch services downtown once the new Central Library is built to the west.

“We did see a need, so we wanted to find out more,” Kirkman said.

Among the survey questions is one that asks: “In your opinion, what library services should be made available in Centretown after the Main Library closes and the new one opens?”

The CCCA will be tracking the postal codes of those who complete the survey so they will know where in the city people are from.

“Centretown encompasses a lot of people that will be close to the new library, so why would they be upset?” Kirkman said. “We don’t want to divide Centretown.”

The survey was launched on the CCCA’s website, with paper copies also available at the association’s annual meeting, which was held at St. Theresa’s Church on Oct. 17.

Prior to the meeting, Kirkman said 28 people had already completed surveys and all of them supported the notion of keeping library services in Centretown.

She said many of them still expressed anger at where the new library will be situated.

“But we’re beyond that now,” she said of the initial fight over the Central Library location.

The survey, she added, is the next step in clarifying what Centretown wants to have happen once the Main branch is closed.

“We’re looking forward,” Kirkman said. “And what we’re looking at is the big hole, where the Main library now is not going to be.”

The survey can be found at http://www.centretowncitizens.ca/survey-library-services-centretown/