Tag Archives: Central Library

Deadline moved to Mon Dec 12 at 12 noon for RPL budget comments

The deadline for submissions to City Council about the RPL budget has been revised to be Monday Dec. 12 at 12 noon. Send submissions to clerks@regina.ca . You need to say that the letter is for the budget meeting on December 14, 

The info is in the AGENDA PACKET for the City Council Budget meeting on December 14. Go to this webpage, http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx then click on the Dec 14 City Council meeting, the  AGENDA PACKET. It takes a little bit of time to download. The RPL document is pages Pages 430 to 473. Page 134 lists the Library mill rate increases since  2016. 

The budget is mostly a description of RPL previous and planned activities, so reasonably readable.

Please submit your thoughts, no matter how brief, to the City.

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Catalyst Conversation Nov 24 will include Library

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 24, 7:30 pm: CATHEDRAL CATALYST CONVERSATION, CATHEDRAL NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, 2900 13TH AVE

A chance to learn about, provide feedback on the city’s Catalyst Projects. Ward 3 City Councillor Andrew Stevens will be there to answer questions.

Nov 10 (revised) deadline for Catalyst Ctte submissions

Members of the public have until Nov 10 at midnight to
1. Fill out the Be Heard Survey https://beheard.regina.ca/catalyst-committee
2. Submit comments to the Catalyst Committee.. 

Send to:  Attention Co-chairs Tim Reid + Bob Hawkins at catalyst@regina.ca and

Cc: Regina City Council Clerks at clerks@regina.ca  – to forward to Mayor and all Council
      RPL Board therplboard@reginalibrary.ca – to forward to all Board members
 

Modernist Central Library – why it should be preserved

An excellent display by Jeannie Mah to the Catalyst Committee about the value of the modernist Central Library Building. Modernist Central Library. J. Mah

Speaking notes for her Oct. 20, 2022 presentation to the Catalyst Committee. Notes. Modernist Central Library, for Catalyst C. J. MAH

Also Jeannie Mah’s presentation to the RPL Board on Sept. 27 RPL Board Central Library_27th Sept 2022

Our Modernist Central Library was built in 1962 after winning a city-wide plebiscite vote to spend $925,000 for a new library. Sixty years later, with neither discussion paper nor public discussion nor mention of its Heritage status, the RPL Library Board has “considered what’s best for customers and the community”, and has voted to demolish Central Library.

Tours of Central: Oct 25 to 29

Regina Public Library is hosting tours from Oct 25 to 29, 2022 “to share information about the history of the building and some of the issues we are facing. Join us for a guided tour to hear about key concerns and remediation RPL has been undertaking to keep it safe. There will be opportunity to ask questions along the way. This tour provides a chance to learn more about the Central Library Renewal (CLR) project, one of the infrastructure projects being reviewed by the City of Regina’s Catalyst Committee. Tours begin in the lobby and will last approximately one hour. Tues, Oct 25 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Wed, Oct 26 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Wed, Oct 26 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Thurs, Oct 27 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Sat, Oct 29 10:00am – 11:00am For more information, and to register for a tour: https://central.reginalibrary.ca/” You must preregister – have your library card handy or be prepared to sign up for one.

Note that these tours are supposed to talk about the heritage aspects of the building, but their main focus will be on the problems with the building, to justify the RPL Board’s decision to tear it down. So be prepared for this line of thought, and your questions about the building.

Deadline Oct 31st: letters to Catalyst Committee

Deadline Oct 31st:  Send presentations that were given to the RPL Board, presentations given at Catalyst Committee and other thoughts to Catalyst Committee.  

It has been suggested to us that it would be good to have your presentations and letters sent to the Catalyst Committee by the end of October.

Send to:  Attention Co-chairs Tim Reid + Bob Hawkins at catalyst@regina.ca and

Tim Reid at tim.reid@real1884.ca and dakota.schmidt@real1884.ca 

Bob Hawkins at  bhawkins@regina.ca 


Cc: Regina City Council Clerks at clerks@regina.ca  – to forward to Mayor and all Council.

Public can listen, present at Catalyst Ctte

Reminder of this week’s meetings of the Catalyst Committee. See important articles and letters to the editor https://friendsofrpl.ca/central-branch-2021/media-coverage-central-library-2022/

Information on the Catalyst Committee https://beheard.regina.ca/catalyst-committee Regina Residents Invited to Provide Input on Once-in-a-Generation Catalyst Committee Projects, October 7, 2022 https://www.regina.ca/news/Regina-Residents-Invited-to-Provide-Input-on-Once-in-a-Generation-Catalyst-Committee-Projects/

Their report to Council in January 2023 will have a major influence on projects that will receive City Council support in the future.

Sessions Oct. 17 to 20, 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm
AGT Lounge, enter by Northwest door at Mosaic Stadium. Use Elevator 2 to the 3rd floor.
Parking in nearby lots, bus #12

Project proponents will make first presentation of about 30 minutes.
Members of the public can make presentations, 5 to 10 minutes is suggested, but there is no set time limit. You don’t have to submit your presentation in advance. You can bring PowerPoint presentations on a USB stick.

Monday: Multi-Purpose Event Centre
Tuesday: Regina Aquatics Centre
Wednesday: Multi-Purpose Outdoor Baseball Event Centre & Synthetic Outdoor Field Project (joint presentation)
Thursday: Modernization of the Central Library

People can sent in emails / letters to the Catalyst Committee.
 For full consideration, get them in by the end of October. Email questions and submissions to clerks@regina.ca with the subject line  “Catalyst Committee”.

The BEHEARD survey will be posted on the City of Regina website (www.beheard.regina.ca/catalyst-committee) starting on October 17th.  

There is no arrangement for broadcasting the event on the internet, so no ability to make a presentation remotely or to hear what is being said.

People can create display storyboards, to be at the AGT location by Friday Oct 14 or befor 11 am on the 17th

There is no downtown location for a discussion of the downtown.

Library at Catalyst Committee Oct. 20th

Just posted by the City of Regina on Friday at 2:30 (ish) pm before the long weekend, a media release outlining the “opportunity” of 4 hours time to comment on the RPL proposal about Central Library. This Committee will make recommendations to the City of Regina about City support of major projects, including Central Library. 

Regina Residents Invited to Provide Input on Once-in-a-Generation Catalyst Committee Projects, October 7, 2022

https://www.regina.ca/news/Regina-Residents-Invited-to-Provide-Input-on-Once-in-a-Generation-Catalyst-Committee-Projects/

  • Consultations will be from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 to 7 pm from Oct. 17 to 20
  • Central Library will be discussed on Oct. 20
  • People can go there and make a presentation – apparently a 30-minute time limit.
  • Currently there is no arrangement for broadcasting the event on the internet, so no ability to make a presentation or to hear what is being said.
  • People can create display storyboards for display, to be at the AGT location by Friday Oct 14 (presumably at close of the business day?).
  • There is no downtown location for a discussion of the downtown.
  • There will be a BEHEARD survey on the City of Regina website (www.beheard.regina.ca/catalyst-committee) starting on October 17th.  
  • You can currently send them questions now. 
  • In an interview with Paul Dechene of Prairie Dog Magazine, Councillor Hawkins, co-chair of the Catalyst Committee, said they will be accepting written submissions.  Written submissions or questions should be emailed to clerks@regina.ca with the subject line as Catalyst Committee.
  • Paul Dechene’s Oct. 6th interview “Catalyst Committee Interview With Councillor Hawkins” where the goals of the Committee are explained. Queen City Improvement Bureau Podcasts  http://queencityib.com/podcasts/2022/10/7/oct-07-2022-catalyst-committee-interview-with-councillor-hawkins

Actions to preserve Central Library

We would encourage the preservation of Heritage and Rehabilitation of RPL’s Central Library, a more environmental and less costly solution. https://friendsofrpl.ca/central-branch-2021/why-retaining-buildings-is-a-better-plan/

Examples of rehabilitation and additions to library buildings https://friendsofrpl.ca/central-branch-2021/library-additions-examples/ 

URGENT!  Express your views:

  1. Letters to the Editor in Leader Post. Send to: letters@LeaderPost.com.  250 word limit.  Name and phone number. Send to national papers.
  2. Letters, emails or phone calls to the Mayor and all City Councillors https://www.regina.ca/about-regina/contact-us/contact-councillor/   or contact City Clerks clerks@regina.ca Clerks Office will forward emails, including longer ones, PDFs, or documents with photos that don’t fit into the online form. Mayor Masters and Councillor Findura are also on the RPL Board, and voted against the RPL Board motion. Councillor Hawkins is co-chair of the Catalyst Committee. Phone numbers and contact information for City Councillors CITY COUNCILLORS CONTACT INFO – Oct. 3, 2022
  3. Letters, emails or phone calls to the RPL Board therplboard@reginalibrary.ca , or by post to: Regina Public Library, CEO’s Office, 2311 12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3Z5
  4. Send questions and comments or comment online to programs such as CBC Morning Edition, and other local news TV and radio shows.
  5. Are you willing to be interviewed by the media – many voices make light work!
  6. Contact other groups, organizations or individuals who could help address this issue.
  7. Please forward copies of your letters to FRPL, and let us know if we have your permission to share on our website and on our Facebook page. frpl@sasktel.net
  8. Attend the Catalyst Committee’s public consultations, to be held in October.

RPL Vote Sept. 27, 2022

On Tuesday September 27th the RPL Board voted to demolish Central Library building and build a completely new building on the same site. However, the recommendations of the City’s Catalyst Committee, heritage designations and public views can still have a major influence on the next steps for Central Library.

On the 27th, after hearing presentations from members of the public asking for a delay in the vote to give people more time to review the reports related to the future of the Central Library building, the Board still went ahead and voted in favour of a tear down and construction of a new building.

The Motions: Three motions were passed by the RPL Board on Sept. 27. Six Board members voted in favour (See list of Board members https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership )  Mayor Masters and Councillor Findura voted against all the motions. Final votes were 6 to 2 on the motions.

That the Regina Public Library Board concur in the Central Library Renewal Needs Assessment and Project Plan conclusion that “A New Build option is the preferred approach to meet project outcomes and balance functional needs with value for money” and, further, that the preferred location for a New Build is the historic location on the Library’s property at 12th Avenue and Lorne Street.

Second motion, notes from a recording of the meeting. “… that the determination of next steps be referred to the strategic plan committee” (The proper name of the RPL Committee is the Strategic Planning Committee. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership/board-committees

Third motion: For the Board to “… receive and file the Central Library Renewal Needs Assessment and Project Plan, the Stakeholder Engagement Summary and the Polling Report.”

What’s involved with a New Build

With the New Build, something has to be done with the “old” building. The Board voted to build again on the same site, so the site would not be sold.

Description from page 57 of the Needs Assessment and Project Planning report:

Option 6 : Design & Construct New (“New Build”)

 Design and construct a purpose built space in downtown Regina to meet the functional and operational requirements of the Central Library

 Disposal of the current facility and, if required, site

 Selection of appropriate site to meet Central Library requirements