By Stephen Vance, Editor
On Monday, January 12, Meaford’s council will be presented with a report concerning the challenges currently faced by the library with regard to accessibility and space. The 48-page report prepared by Lundholm Associates identifies the deficiencies in the current facility, and offers a range of proposed options for creating a fully accessible library with adequate space.
Before people get their knickers in a knot, and you know some will, the report doesn’t exclusively recommend the construction of a Taj Mahal, though the $7.3 million, two storey structure in Market Square option in the report would certainly be a Taj Mahal for a small rural town like Meaford.
That said, the cheapest option identified in the report will cost an estimated $2.6 million. For that paltry-by-comparison-only amount, the current building would be upgraded with, among other things, new windows, electrical, roofing and so on, and an elevator would be installed in order to make all levels of the library accessible to all patrons.
Based on the report to be presented on Monday, if Meaford wants to fix its library problems, it will cost somewhere between $2.6 million and $7.3 million. Even as the strong supporter of libraries that I am, I wouldn’t support spending $7.3 million on a small town public library that serves roughly 4,000 members. Set aside for a moment the question of where the money would even come from for such a project, from my perspective any small town that would spend that kind of money on a library while roads are crumbling and taxes are rising is a crazy town.
Municipalities need to abandon their seemingly unquenchable thirst for constructing mausoleums when what is truly needed is a box with some windows and doors. $7.3 million would fix quite a few kilometres of roads. $7.3 million on a library for a town of 11,000 is quite simply insane.
Thankfully, the report to be presented to council includes several options, the cheapest of which is a mere (yes, my tongue is in my cheek) $2.6 million. Still a lot of money, but far less than the $4 million figure that has been bandied about over the last several years. According to the report, for $2.6 million, the current, ageing structure would be given a full renovation to give the building a new roof, new windows, insulation, electrical and an elevator would be installed which would make all levels of the facility accessible. For another $2 million, says the report, an addition could be built to increase space for the library.
But even $4.7 million seems excessive for a formerly cash-strapped community that is supposed to have learned its painful financial lessons from past mistakes. Naturally the word ‘grant’ will come up in the discussions. The word ‘grant’ will be used to soften the financial worries. It will be suggested that we could possibly get two thirds, or even half of the cost picked up by upper levels of government, meaning we could have a big shiny brand new $7 million library for a mere few million. Trouble is, it all comes from the same pockets – ours.
Libraries are one of the more valuable services offered by municipalities. They are a place for learning, for socializing, for the community to come together. Libraries should also reflect the community that they serve. When Meafordites walk into their library, should they be entering a glossy, shiny, expensive structure, or would something a little less flashy, and a lot less costly be more suitable?
The discussion at council will no doubt be interesting, but remember – this is just a report. A study has been done at the request of the municipality, and the report simply summarizes the results of the study. There is nothing binding within the report, even the options included in the report are just that – options. Meaford is a long, long way from either a renovated or newly constructed library. A lot of magic will have to happen before Meaford can be in a position to implement even the least costly option in the report.
So everyone take a deep breath and relax, perhaps with a good book.
