What's in a Library Building?

I went last week to the information session on Bruce St. Library.  I was at the afternoon session and there was a pretty decent crowd for that one  I watched the presentation, which, went through the three options, and made a recommendation. Those options are: to sell it outright, lease it, or put another library branch in the building. The Consultants recommended the Town maintain ownership, and lease it to another organization, entirely ruling out the possibility of having another small branch at the Bruce St. location

On the open market the consultant estimates the buildings at 45 Bruce St, and 407 Pine St would get at least $3 million each.  And that's without a bidding war- I can see that could present a huge temptation; sell off the property get the $6 million or more, use the money to service a few debts, maybe put some of it towards that hospital expansion.  Leasing would create a consistent revenue stream, and put the building to good use.

I got the feeling from the presentation though, the consultants still didn't see the consequences of removing the library from the neighbourhood..  I think the Town, and consultants underestimated the success of the petition to save Bruce St, or this issue would generate such a buzz among the people.  It's clear from the over 1,000 signatures there is some desire for Bruce St. as a  branch library, and hopefully Council will listen and make something happen.  It doesn't make sense to put an increased population in that area through intensification and then take an amenity like a library away.  I'd imagine that proximity to a library would be a huge draw to move to an area and could increase the real estate values.

In the absence of more branch libraries in the west end it only makes sense to leave a branch library along Main St.  With the movement of the main Library out to  its Main and Thompson location, and the Beatty Branch it could appear as if the resource distribution is unfair and make people who live in the core feel like they don't matter.  When Council considers the consultants' presentation, they should consider the petition, and make those people feel like they matter.