by Jon van Oostveen Our community is well on its way to having a new Powell River Public Library. I would like to share with you where we are today in achieving our three goals: community support, financial support and location consensus.
We now know that an overwhelming majority of Powell River residents are in favour of creating a new public library. A poll, part of the recently-completed feasibility study, showed that 75 per cent of residents support the new library endeavour.
The study also indicated strong financial support for the new library. Local charitable gifts are estimated to be in the range of $1 million. This is an impressive figure for our small town. As well, the poll revealed that 69 per cent of those surveyed would be willing to support funding a new library through a tax increase. Did you know that a tax increase of $19 per year could fund $3.5 million? Through a mix of donations, borrowing, Powell River Community Forest Ltd. revenue and government grants, we could raise the $9.5 million that the new library is projected to cost. This is exciting news.
Libraries are proven community economic drivers. The new library will be a go-to place and will be a huge draw for tourists and people looking to move to Powell River. When making a decision on communities to relocate to, families look for robust and quality public amenities like libraries. Building a new library is a solid community investment, not a cost.
We are the first library in Canada to have been awarded the prestigious Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Regarding the award, the BC ministry of education called us “the little library that could.” One other BC library has less space per capita than we do and we rank dead last in public Internet access out of 70 BC libraries.
The final goal—location—is the one that still needs work. I believe the Willingdon site makes the most sense. It would make Willingdon Park more diverse, transforming it into an active, people-centred and dynamic place while revitalizing businesses along Marine Avenue. It would ensure that this space remains a public place, open to the entire community. Unfortunately, the Willingdon location has become the defining issue of this project. We need to build strong community consensus or we may lose the opportunity to create a new library.
As a way forward, the library board has proposed that City of Powell River councillors choose one or more alternative sites and develop a design concept for each. The concepts, including Willingdon, will be presented at a series of town hall meetings where the public will have an opportunity to learn about each one and express their preferred choice. A telephone poll will then be completed to gauge overall community support for a preferred concept. This would tell us which concept and site to adopt.
This project is not about the library board getting it right. It’s about us, the community, getting it right. Our library and community are good. Let’s make them better—together.
Jon van Oostveen is chair of Powell River Public Library board.
