by Dave Formosa During our municipal elections on November 15, voters will be asked a referendum question about their support for a new Powell River Public Library. With a vote of confidence from residents, we’ll begin the process of creating a much-needed new library for Powell River.
With a successful yes vote, the public grants the city the option to borrow up to $3.5 million in order to relocate the old library to a renovated facility at Crossroads Village Shopping Centre. Three and a half million dollars in long-term borrowing means a contribution of about $20 per household, per year. Our aim is to secure at least two thirds of the necessary funding from sources other than local taxation, including contributions from other levels of government and private donations. The cost to taxpayers amounts to one cup of coffee a month—a small price for a long-term investment in the well-being of our town.
There are still many unanswered questions in these early days, but with a yes vote, the public empowers city, council and library board to move forward, to address every issue. City staff can begin the work of negotiation and planning. The public library, along with its board of trustees, can begin a fundraising strategy.
With public support for a new library, we commit to our city’s resilience, sustainability and economic health. Libraries are part of an appealing city landscape that is attractive to business investors and families alike. No community is complete without one.
Recent research on the economic impact of Canadian libraries in their communities is compelling. For every dollar invested in a public library, each citizen receives several dollars’ worth of direct benefits in return. These come not only from borrowed books but in the form of meeting rooms and study spaces, computer and Internet access, as well as the many educational and cultural programs a public library offers. This might be especially true of modern libraries—the community living rooms of the future—whose casual, comfortable spaces are designed with enriched technology in mind.
The library is a vital resource for those living on fixed incomes. It provides free access for families to children’s programming and parenting resources. Seniors can come in to read the newspapers or borrow large-print books. They can take part in book clubs or writing workshops—all valuable opportunities for lifelong social connectedness.
At the library, cardholders can build the skills they need in order to upgrade their education. They can gather research to start a business. They can improve literacy skills and maximize their employment potential. All of these factors create an upward trend in earnings and prosperity. They contribute to the competitiveness and the economic growth of the community as a whole.
It’s been a long journey for our community, a challenging one at times, to renew this crucial piece of civic infrastructure. But I believe we have finally arrived at an affordable option in the right location—an outcome I’m truly proud of. This is our chance to build a facility that will serve us well for decades to come.
Dave Formosa is mayor for the City of Powell River.
