Joint-library project off the table

As far as the public library board is concerned, any new library and technology centre built in Fort Frances will be a stand-alone facility next to the Memorial Sports Centre, on the corner of Reid Avenue and Second Street East.
The library board cemented its stance on the matter once and for all last Wednesday, after passing a motion to accept a study on the proposed joint facility for the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre and Robert Moore School.
The study was compiled by the library building committee, consisting of library board chair Joyce Cunningham, library fundraising chair Mark Kowalchuk, project manager Brian Avis, Community Services manager George Bell, Margaret Sedgwick, CEO of the Fort Frances Public Library, and includes a long list of reasons why the standalone option is the best option.
 While the reasons are fully explained in the report, in brief, these include:
•Successful joint ventures have, for the most part, been in branch libraries where full-service libraries are close by or in very small communities where the alternative was no library. The local library already is a full-service library;
•The public library`s Early Literacy Programs have been successfully developed to meet the needs of the community and are essential. The extensive children’s and youth programs at the public library run during school hours. Access to a shared library by non-students cannot be restricted during the day;
•There is an ever-increasing demand for public and school access to new technology and services at the same time. Again, no access during school hours would be a problem;
•Intellectual freedom is a principle of public libraries, while safety is an overriding concern of school libraries. In a joint-venture, the latter could compromise the former (in areas such as censorship, etc.);
•There is a concern that adults, especially seniors and school dropouts, may be uncomfortable in a school library;
•The clientele of the public library is broader than just one school;
•The fact the school board is larger than the town may result in lost revenue from public library non-resident fees;
•A detailed legal agreement between the library board and school board would involve significant time and cost;
•There are no demonstrated construction cost savings for a joint facility, and in fact, there would be extra costs. For example, the library would need to get an automatic sprinkler system, which it does not have under current plans;
•There are demonstrated opportunities for operational savings with the Memorial Sports Centre in a stand-alone facility; and
•The fundraising committee for the new library has raised over $531,000 in donations. Refunds may have to be issued to those who donated to the conclusion of a stand-alone library and technology centre.
Based on the aforementioned reasons, the committee recommended in the study that the Fort Frances Public Library Board proceed with the construction of a standalone public library-technology centre next to the Memorial Sports Centre, on the corner of Reid Avenue and Second Street East.
The committee also recommended the library board pursue all opportunities to work co-operatively with the school board in order to develop programs and services that will benefit both students and the public.
In correspondence with the Times, Kowalchuk said Thursday that the exercise “confirmed that our initial studies for a standalone facility next to the Memorial Sports Centre is the best and final option.”
He added that it also “confirmed the fact that the past 14 years of effort have not been wasted,” but lamented the whole exercise has caused the project to be delayed by a year, with the result being that the cost of a new library has been increased by several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Needlessly, I might add,” said Kowalchuk.
That said, he stressed that the “Building for the Future” fundraising campaign will carry on.