THUNDER BAY – City council will discuss rezoning a portion of the Intercity Shopping Centre to add a library during Monday’s meeting.
Richard Togman, Thunder Bay Public Library’s chief executive officer, made a presentation on the state-of-the-art central library plan for a small group of people at the 55 Plus Centre on Wednesday.
If approved, the renovation would cost $16 million – with half coming from the city and the rest coming from fundraising and grants. The new central library would include 55,000 square feet of space and free parking.
Togman said rezoning would legally allow for a library to operate out of Intercity Shopping Centre.
“We obviously already operate libraries out of malls. Specifically for . . . where the Intercity Shopping Centre is, the bylaw as it stands right now didn't conceive that a library would want to go there – so it's not written in.
“With this new idea, we need an update to the bylaws.”
Joan Duke, a former member of the Thunder Bay Public Library board, has been involved with libraries for the last 35 years – both in the city and the region.
“They're very important to me,” Duke said. “They've been a very big, big part of my life.”
She attended Togman’s presentation and said she has had “lots of different thoughts” on the idea of creating a central library location in the Intercity Shopping Centre.
“I've gone from good thoughts and bad thoughts and – I think he kind of convinced me today that it's a great idea to have it there."
Duke has asked lots of people in Thunder Bay what they think about the idea.
“I got many, many different comments and Richard did answer a lot of those questions. So, he's got me more comfortable with the big library at Intercity Mall.”
On Monday, two people are scheduled to speak with council to provide their feedback on the proposal. One opposes the application and the other has questions related to tenancy and ownership as well as cost.
Togman said he has heard from some people who are against the plan, but many change their minds once they learn more about it. He said the library did a survey that showed most people are in favour of the project.
"People are often skeptical of tax increases, but in that survey the average person said they'd be willing to pay almost $40 extra on their taxes to get a facility like this," he said.
"And when we break down the numbers, it will cost possibly an extra $2 a year for the average taxpayer."
The central library proposal also has 44 letters of support from organizations in Thunder Bay.
Council has discussed having a central library while keeping the Waverley and Mary JL Black branches or that same scenario along with maintaining County Park.
Although council will ultimately decide on what direction to take in July, the Thunder Bay Public Library Board will approve its master facilities plan on Thursday afternoon with a recommendation on how to proceed.
