Ottawa Public Library finds new home

The Ottawa Public Library's main branch will soon have a new location, just west of where it is now, library officials announced Wednesday.

The library's board said it plans to build a new $180-million library building in the city block bordered by Albert, Lyon, Bay and Slater streets.

The current building at Metcalfe and Laurier streets, officials said, was built 35 years ago, and as a result, has modern accessibility and security challenges that couldn't be overcome.

Bill Rivrin, who has visited the library on Metcalfe Street for 15 years, said he'll be sad to see the old building go.

"It's fine as it is to me. I don't see anything wrong with it," he said.

"I don't see why they're building another one."

Barbara Clubb, the chief librarian, said having a building with character just isn't enough for the frequently used library.

"It was built for a little city of 250,000 people, and now it's undersized and overused," she said.

"It's too small for the collections and the people, and it's too small for what needs to go on in that institution. "

Jan Harder, the councillor for Barrhaven and chair of the library board, said it plans to ask the city for $26 million to go toward buying the land.

Harder said the board will also look to the provincial and federal governments to help with funding, they'll do some fundraising, and that they're hoping to sell the old building on Metcalfe Street, which is valued at between $17 million and $20 million, to help pay for the new building.

Harder said the board was hoping to have the doors to the new building open by 2014.