|
|
GUELPH, ON October 20, 2009.... The Guelph Public Library Board recognizes the financial challenges facing the City of Guelph, but is urging City Council not to postpone the planned construction of a new central library in downtown Guelph indefinitely.
Randall Wilson, library board chair, said the Library understands the complexities involved in prioritizing capital projects and is willing to discuss “any and all” possible business and funding models to help the Library project go forward.
“We are being told that the Library may now not be in the capital forecast for at least five years. This will be very hard news for the 80% of the population who are library patrons and who have been waiting a long time for this. But, the financial concerns are real and we are ready to cooperate in any way we can to find a better alternative than just indefinitely postponing the development of a much needed new building.”
Mr. Wilson said that public-private partnerships with a developer, lease back options and even fund raising by the Library itself could all be considered as possible solutions.
“We also have a very valuable land asset on the current site that could be brought into the mix.”
At the very least, said Mr. Wilson, the central library project needs to get back on the capital forecast for next year. In the meantime, the Board will need to find funds to sustain the current structure for the foreseeable future.
“There are substantive issues about our current building that need to be addressed very soon”.
The Guelph Public Library will continue to do everything it can to encourage City Council to make the Library project a top priority and to find creative and innovative solutions to get a new central library built as soon as possible, said Mr. Wilson.
|
