Don't move Ottawa central library out of downtown core, union says

The union representing library workers is questioning the city's planned location for a new main branch of the public library, saying a recent report's preferred location takes the facility away from the downtown core.

Last week the Ottawa Public Library board released a consultant's report suggesting the city should build a new 132,000 square foot library rather than try to refurbish the existing library at 120 Metcalfe Street.

The report suggested a number of potential locations, but suggested 557 Wellington Street — at Commisioner Street near LeBreton Flats — was the preferred location.

Canadian Union of Public Employees national representative Susan Arab said the public hasn't been consulted enough on the proposed location.

"[They picked a] location that is really outside the downtown core and we don't believe there has been enough actual discussion with the main users of this branch to determine whether that's actually going to meet their needs," said Arab.

The report's definition of the central area of the city took into consideration the development of the Confederation light rail transit line in determining a broad area, and stretches from the site of the future Bayview light rail station to King Edward Avenue.

The report also considered future potential developments in downtown west, like Claridge lands in LeBreton Flats and the proposed Windmill  Developments plans for the Chaudière and Albert islands, in determining the boundaries of the central area.

Services like library should stay in core: union

But Arab says many seniors have already downsized and moved back to the downtown core so they can be close to services like the library.

"There's been a lot of effort to make the downtown core dense… so it's important that those services remain here so that they can have access to them," she said.

Arab also wants more publicly funded options, and said the public-private partnerships under discussion are being determined without public consultation.

"We don't think the whole area of financing has been discussed enough and we don't think the area of location has been discussed enough," she said.

Arab's group organized a public forum Monday night to address some of these concerns.

The Ottawa Public Library Board is voting Tuesday on whether to proceed with the report's recommendations.