When will the Town of Newmarket get a new or updated public library?

Current library too small, crowded, limits program and service offerings, says CEO

Yorkregion.com
July 31, 2018
Teresa Latchford

Newmarket residents what to know when they are going to get a new public library.

A Newmarket Era reader submitted a question via CONNECT, asking when the town plans to expand or construct the current facility on Park Avenue, which many residents have complained is too small with limited parking and not easily accessible by transit.

“The last two terms of council haven’t put the library on the priority list,” Newmarket Public Library CEO Todd Kyle said. “It would be nice to just have a space where people aren’t tripping over other people constantly.”

 

The province has set the minimum standard at 0.6 square feet of library space per capita but Newmarket is barely at 0.4, Kyle confirmed. Given the town’s current population, Newmarket is one of the smallest libraries per capita in the province and spends less per capita on library services compared to successful libraries in similar-sized communities.

The lack of space makes it difficult to keep shelving at a desirable height and uncluttered and to offer quiet meeting and study rooms so many patrons ask for. The library’s current “maker space” was a storage room that was transformed, he said. The current 35,000 square-foot facility isn’t large enough to offer all the programs, events, activities, exhibits and meeting or collaboration spaces customers are demanding.

“The current location has restrictions on the land so we would have to build up to expand, which isn’t ideal,” he said. “Our two options seem to be building a new facility or constructing satellite branches to increase our services to the public.”

Despite some believing that the internet has made public libraries irrelevant, community libraries are thriving in neighbouring towns and cities. The Markham Public Library has built three new branches in the past decade and Vaughan continues to invest, opening its new state-of-the-art Civic Centre Resource Library.

Libraries are no longer just about the books, he added. Services have expanded to include instructor-led education programs, community conversation programs, drop-in technology help services, design and maker spaces, job-finding services and much more. Collections have also expanded to include digital books, movies, music and magazines to download free, any time.

In 2016, the library board and town council held a workshop to explore future library facility options. Following the workshop, the board voted to use existing funds to commission a study on future facility needs and options. In 2017, the board requested council’s support for the study but it was felt review of library operations should be completed first.

Recently, the town completed an efficiency and effectiveness report spelling out recommendations that would better align the partnership between the town and the library and use existing resources most efficiently, according to community services commissioner Ian McDougall. The recommendations include how to best market programs, fulfil technology needs and requirements as well as facility needs like maintenance in the most efficient way.

“It was geared to determine the best use of current resources,” he added. “No matter what the future holds for the library, now we have an operational framework regardless of physical structure.”

As for what is to come for the library, McDougall confirmed town staff will be recommending the new term of council conduct a needs study before 2022 and that council consider the library one of its strategic priorities to be included in the four-year term.

The town would be looking to better align itself with the library to offer the programs and services residents are seeking.

Town chief administrative officer Bob Shelton said the first order of business, should the newly elected council make the library a priority, will be to retain an outside expert to conduct an updated study pinpointing the exact needs of the library.

A similar study was conducted in 2006, showing the need for more library space to serve the growing Newmarket population, Shelton added.

“A number of factors came into the decision not to proceed with the recommendations in the study at that time,” he said. “Budget was a big issue.”

There was also hesitation at the time because the landscape of library service was changing due to technology and the gaining popularity of the internet. It wasn’t clear at the time what a library should look like and what the specific needs would be.

While council will be looking at a number of priorities during the next term, Shelton said a major project, such as the construction of a new library or satellite branches could be accomplished in a four-year term.

What can residents do?

Use your library by getting a card, attending a program and downloading resources.

Speak to your neighbours and council representative.

Make a public deputation at a library board or council meeting regarding the need for expanded library services.

For more information, visit Newmarketpl.ca.