FORT FRANCES—With the “Building for the Future” fundraising campaign moving full-steam ahead, plans for the new Fort Frances Public Library are on track for a ground-breaking this coming spring.
Last week, town council passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with Chamberlain Architect Services Ltd. for architectural services for the Fort Frances Public Library/technology centre project.
Then on Monday, library board chairperson Joyce Cunningham said she and the new library steering committee have been working with Chamberlain vice-president John Knox on fine-tuning the design for the new library.
“We’ve made progress in that they’ve done the survey and [Knox] has figured out how to place things on the lot [located at the corner of Reid Avenue and Second Street East],” noted Cunningham.
“We’re very happy with that lot and so is the architect because we have plenty of space and we can turn our building around any way we want.
“The site, because it is part of that Sportsplex, puts us in a very good position for services to the library, in terms of water and sewer,” Cunningham added.
“In comparison to other sites, our site development charges are going to be very good and we’re very pleased about that.
“We’re very happy with the architect. He’s had experience in building libraries,” she continued. “He works on a consultation basis, he listens to our concerns, our needs, and definitely wants this library to meet the needs and expectations of our citizen.
“We’re really at quite an exciting stage. Things are going quite well,” she enthused. “We’re very, very pleased.”
So far, said Cunningham, the committee only has seen sketches of Knox’s plans for the new library, but hopes to see more at the board’s next meeting with him on Dec. 19.
While the board has put out requests to the public for input, and subsequently received feedback, Cunningham said “to a large extent, it reinforced some of the things we had thought of.”
“And that was very encouraging, to know we were going in the right direction,” she added. “The emphasis on one level kept coming up. Having more space kept coming up. Having more in the way of up-to-date technology and more to do that sort of thing kept coming up.
“So, by and large, it reinforced the direction we are going.”
The concept behind the 16,000 sq. ft. library is to be a modern facility that offers a variety of programs and services to meet the technological and literacy needs of the community.
The new library will be a single-level building, and accessible to everyone. It will feature a variety of reading areas, including a fireplace lounge and a reading garden, lower shelves and wider aisles, as well as face-out book displays to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
It also will have study rooms, a children’s area (with separate areas for pre-schoolers and older children), a storytime/children’s programming room, and teen area with lounge seating and computers, and a conference room which can be used by community groups.
As well, plans call for a self-checkout station for convenience and privacy, washrooms that are accessible to everyone, additional office, workroom, and storage space for library staff, ample parking, and improved energy efficiencies.
Cunningham said one aspect of planning that has taken on a greater significance during talks with Knox is the library’s second role as a “technology centre.”
“This is one of the things that has become really exciting in the last little while,” she remarked. “What we have learned and what we have decided is that this library is going to be a library and technology centre, which means we are looking into advanced kinds of technology.
“We’ll have not just a plain computer room . . . we’re emphasizing services like teleconference, videoconferencing, web conferencing,” she stressed. “We’re working now on doing some liaisoning with the technology centre in Thunder Bay.
“We’re looking at really bringing in access, through technology, to the outside world. In addition to that will be a place where we can conduct courses, training for business, for interest groups and for all of that,” she noted.
“In the last little while, we’re getting a better handle on what that technology centre can be.”
Cunningham said having this type of access available to the public is “important for this area.”
“We felt for quite some time that because we’re 350 km from major centres, we should not be cut off from the rest of the world,” she explained. “All of us kept saying, through technology, there must be ways to open us up so that it can be two-way—that we can learn from the outside and share what we have here with other places.
“We’re starting to see how we can use this as part of the library.”
The timeline for the library project will see construction start in the spring, with the new library opening its doors in early 2009.
The new library will cost an estimated $3.8 million. It is partially being funded through government grants, such as the $1.6 million announced by the Ontario Ministry of Culture in early February, with the local fundraising campaign having to raise $750,000.
That campaign has raised nearly $440,000 so far.
“We’ve been pleased with the response from the community. We’re not at our $750,000 but we’re definitely getting towards it,” said Cunningham.
“We’re getting much positive feedback from the members of the community, and other groups are coming on line to do their part, which is very encouraging.
“We appreciate it.”
Cunningham, who personally made a $25,000 donation to the new library last year even before the “Building for the Future” campaign had been launched, reminded the public that with the end of the 2007 tax year coming up, now is the time to donate.
“I appreciated it when I got my tax return and found that I got money back,” she chuckled. “I know people who are planning to donate, and December is a good time to do it.
“You get a little bonus in the spring when you fill out your income tax.”
Those who want to donate to the “Building for the Future” campaign should call the library at 274-9879 or drop by in person to get a pledge card.
Payment options, like Mastercard, VISA, or automatic deductions from your paycheque, are available.
All donations over $25 will be issued a tax receipt.
Another way to give is buying a ticket for the “Building for the Future” elimination raffle. The tickets, which cost $50 each, are on sale now at the Fort Frances Public Library, Fort Frances General Supply, and the Memorial Sports Centre.
A total of 1,000 tickets will be sold, with 20 prizes eligible to be won. The draws all will take place Feb. 23.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
