Friends of the Library urged City of Powell River mayor and council to proceed with one of two siting options presented to the community at the recent Powell River Public Library open house.
Charlotte Gill, media coordinator for the group, told council at the Thursday, July 3, meeting, they are a volunteer organization whose mission it is to support the library, no matter its location.
“It’s the number one-used public facility in town, with more than 10,000 cardholders and thousands of visits every month,” she said. “Yet ours ranks nearly dead last when it comes to square footage per capita in the province.
“Somewhat miraculously, library staff offered more than 400 programs for adults, youth and children in 2013,” Gill said. “In fact, offsite programs have surpassed in-house events because there is simply no room to house them all within our library’s tiny footprint of 531 square metres.”
Gill said her group acknowledges that some residents question the expense of building a new library at this time and it is completely within their right to do so. Some doubt the value of a library in Powell River, claiming they are book museums on their way to becoming obsolete.
“We admit it can be difficult to envision what a modern purpose-built library might look like in our town,” she said. “We have never had one.”
Gill said the friends support the Willingdon South location. “This site is virtually equidistant to everyone within city limits.” Gill said construction of a library at that site would completely revitalize the downtown merchant corridor.
“Situating a library in such a central, prominent location would announce to locals and visitors alike that we are far from over and that we care enough about our community to invest in its cultural and educational life.”
