The steep hill at Bronson and Albert. Photo: Stephen Thirlwall.
by Stephen Thirlwall
On December 15, the OPL Board publicly released their decision for the New Central Library location, one day before the release of this issue of The Centretown BUZZ. The location was revealed to be just west of Bronson, at the intersection of Albert and Commissioner. This article was written without knowledge of the board’s decision and so explores the implications of the different options and what our response might be. It should also be kept in mind that the board’s recommendation has not yet been confirmed by City Council: this may well be our last brief opportunity to have a voice in what happens.
Of particular importance will be the need to determine for yourself how easy, difficult or impossible it will be to get to the new library. Then e-mail or phone your thoughts and concerns to City Council and Mayor Watson, as they will be making the final decision in January to either accept the OPL Board’s choice or reject it.
Closeness to population and services is first and foremost on OPL’s list of selection criteria for the new library location. The current catchment area for Main Branch encompasses all of Centretown/Downtown, the west side of Lowertown/Sandy Hill, the northern Glebe and eastern Dalhousie.
The Main Branch has the highest traffic and circulation in the OPL system and has been situated for many decades in the heart of the city’s most dense population. The population being served includes not only residents but also many thousands who come here as workers and tourists.
Statistics collected for OPL confirm that 81.3 percent of current users walk to the Main Branch and another 8.4 percent bike.
LeBreton Flats and Bayview have received very strong support from various politicians, developers and the media. However, neither is close to a sizable population and neither has much current infrastructure.
Right now, the entire environment of the possible library site is dug up because of the LRT construction.
The landscape is bleak, exposed to the elements and feels unpleasant and unsafe. The only activities there, other than construction, are the Transitway and rush hour traffic. This makes it noisy and hard for walkers to cross major streets.
While the eventual development of these areas is important, they really need to grow more organically. When they reach an adequate population and complexity, they will earn a library branch.
The catchment area for the possible Centretown sites only shifts a couple of blocks westward. However, if the library moves to LeBreton, 75 to 80 percent of Centretown would fall outside the new catchment area, depending on which specific site is selected.
Only those living north of Laurier in Centretown would have easy LRT access, and only those west of Bank Street and north of Somerset West would have much chance of walking there. Many residents in Centretown will not want to walk 15 to 25 minutes, pay to catch the LRT, travel one stop and then take a five minute walk to the library, only to return home via the same route.
Those who work downtown will no longer be able to do their lunchtime trip to the library and may not wish to make an extra stop in the evening on the way home.
Several CCCA members spoke to various people going into the Main Branch. Most said they preferred a library in Centretown, including those who lived in Vanier, Carp and elsewhere.
An important part of the expected high increase in population is retired seniors and young professionals moving to Centretown. Many seniors will have difficulty with travelling long distances, whether on foot or by transit. Young professionals may not have the time or inclination to travel far to the library. They are more likely to run to alternative online sources.
Centretown is on the LRT line, only one stop (a two-minute ride) away from Lebreton’s Pimisi Station, but is more central and highly linked to bus transit in all directions from across the city. Centretown is closer for all people coming from the east; Lebreton is closer to those coming from the west, but only by one stop.
Now that the OPL Board has announced the chosen location for the new central library, check it out.
The only way to fully appreciate the realities related to the new location is to walk there and back to discover for yourself. What barriers are there for yourself or others? How long does it take you? Is it enjoyable? Would you do it regularly?
So take the walk or do other research of your own and contact City Council. But do so quickly, as time is short. It may make a difference as to whether or not you will continue to have proper access to the Ottawa Public Library.