Friends of the Regina Public Library

On Tuesday March 27, 2012 at 4:30 pm FRPL will be makng a presentation to the RPL Board asking for more information and consultation about plans for upgrading Central Branch. Come out and show your support for FRPL in working for more openess and public involvement in planning about Central Branch.

Design Regina will be holding public meetings on Tuesday March 27. One hour sessions will be held at 12 noon, 5pm and 7pm at the Arteisan on 13th, 2627 13th Avenue at Angus Street. “The Design Regina Project Team has developed a list of draft Strategic Priorities based on the intensive public engagement process that took place over the last year.” More information about Design Regina

On Sept. 29, 2011 FRPL held a Citizen’s Circle as part of the Design Regina process. See summary of FRPL’s Citizen’s Circle discussion FRPL made a presentation to the Design Regina Ideas Fair held Oct.25 See FRPL presentation to Design Regina FRPL members participated in discussions at the Public Forum held the following two days. Discussions at the Forum showed that Reginans see libraries as an important part of the City’s future and an important part of the complete neighbourhoods envisioned at the Forum.

FRPL held a public meeting 7 to 9 pm Tuesday March 13 at the RPL Film Theatre. Over 70 people attended and heard a number of presentations that covered: an overview of the history of Central Branch building; the steps in the current planning process for the upgrading of Central Branch; the heritage aspects of both the Masonic Temple and the Central Branch Building; current protections for municipal heritage buildings in the City of Regina; the important things to consider about public private partnerships; and, a summary of the key current issues. Following that there was a question and answer period.

The full presentation is available, and it is also broken down into sections for easier downloading

• Central Library past & future, Mar 13, 2012 revised PPT
• Central Library past & future, Mar 13, 2012 revised text
• Central Library – 1. Planning & Heritage, Mar 13, 2012 – final PPT
• Central Library – 2. Modernist RPL, Mar 13, 2012 – final PPT
• Central Library – 3. Public Private Partnerships, Mar 13, 2012 – final PPT

Updated Mar 5, 2012

FRPL is holding an important meeting on Tuesday March 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm. at the RPL Film Theatre, Central Branch

Plans have been under development for a long time for potential upgrades to Central Branch, but there hasn’t been public consultation since August 2009. Some information was contained in the proposal to City Council for the Cultural Centre concept application to the P3 Canada fund in June 2011 .  Just prior to that the Surprisebrary concept pictures were accidentally released by an architect in April of 2011.  The Library Board has said for two years that it is looking at many options, contacting partners, etc., and that public consultation would be held “soon”.

But the concern is that the Board is going ahead with steps such as negotiating with the Masons for the purchase of the Masonic Temple and land without public discussion of the need for such a purchase.

Also, in retrospect, there should have been full public discussion before the Cultural Centre concept was approved by City Council for the P3 Canada funding, even if it was only a concept.

Members of the public are concerned about the potential loss of both the Masonic Temple and the Central Branch buildings which are heritage buildings.

Members of the public are concerned about defining the important needs of the library for providing library services.

Members of the public are concerned about the costs and the eventual ownership of a large development. Would it be owned by the public or privately-owned by a development company?

The public has little information and many questions. The meeting on March 13 is being held to share the information that is publicly available and ask questions.

It is important that the Library Board provide more information so that financial and other decisions are not going ahead without public knowledge, understanding and support.

Please attend the meeting on March 13!

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