Please attend these open houses organized by the RPL and contribute your ideas. Forward your thoughts to us at FRPL as well. Thanks!
Regina Public Library (RPL) is making changes to the George Bothwell Branch to improve our ability to meet community expectations and deliver our programs and services well into the future. This branch, which opened in 1994, is one of our busiest with about 200,000 visits per year and serves the growing population of south Regina as well as many people who travel from other parts of the city to the Southland Mall.
Why are we renovating?
RPL is committed to ongoing renewal of our branches and to our customer base at George Bothwell. With a 20-year history of great service in its current location, it is time to create a 21st Century Library that is functional, flexible, inspiring, inviting, and welcoming to all. We want the space to respect the diversity of the community, to be a place that nurtures learning, creativity and curiosity, and also provides a place for refuge comfort and tranquility.
What have we done to date?
RPL has undertaken public consultations through which we defined a set of principles to guide our work to design the branch for the 21st Century. We have used these principles to prepare a conceptual design that we believe addresses our service needs for the foreseeable future, introduces many new features, and provides the flexibility to evolve as community needs change.
How can you contribute?
We want to hear your thoughts about our current space as well as our new design:
- What is your favorite aspect of the existing branch?
- What group of users do you feel is currently under served at the branch?
- Which spaces/services are you most excited about in the new design?
- What is most exciting about the expanded space?
What are the key features of the new design?
- Better connection to the mall with a store front and more windows to see in.
- Balance between quiet, reflective space and areas to meet and socialize.
- Children’s area with natural light that is well separated from quiet reading areas.
- Addition of after-hours access for large meeting spaces.
- Dedicated space for young adults.
- Improved washroom facilities.
- New furniture to improve comfort, and a café space near the mall entrance.
- Introduction of the Idea Shop: a creative space for the community and library staff.
- Flexible and responsive spaces throughout the branch including program rooms which can be opened up to the rest of the space.
- Strong technology support for people with their own devices as well as those using the library’s technologies.
