Ādisōke [Ottawa's New Central Library] | U/C

[rodionx]

Given the city's fiscal situation, I don't really see that library getting built unless there's some kind of developer tie-in to pay the bills. There's more opportunity for that at the Technical High School site.

Union station would be an amazing location if they could find the money and add the necessary space, but as long as it's in the clutches of the federal government, it might as well be built on an Indian burial ground. It's basically untouchable.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by rodionx

Union station would be an amazing location if they could find the money and add the necessary space, but as long as it's in the clutches of the federal government, it might as well be built on an Indian burial ground. It's basically untouchable.

Hahaha... well put.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by rodionx

.

Union station would be an amazing location if they could find the money and add the necessary space, but as long as it's in the clutches of the federal government, it might as well be built on an Indian burial ground. It's basically untouchable.

I think the feds would be quite happy to get rid of the building - I think that any use though would require tens of millions to get the building ready (which is what killed previous plans for the site). It hardly gets used as a conference centre anymore anyway. But I don't think the city has the kind of money that would be necessary to fix up the building and make it suitable for a library.

[rakerman]

If it will never be a train station (or a transit station) again, Union Station is not a terrible idea in theory. I'm not convinced though that it has enough space and spaces of the necessary shapes for a big central library. This is a once-in-a-century deal, moving from cramped space to something that will sustain massive traffic and use - it needs to be big. It will be one of the few (remaining) central public spaces. Train stations are lofty, but they're designed to move people around, not accomodate different groups and uses by people onsite for an entire day.

[Ottawan]

Denley Column that encapsulates my sadness at the eternal lack of progress on the Central Library issue:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/De...762/story.html

Denley: Library neglect an embarrassment
Building new central branch not just about dollars
By Randall Denley, The Ottawa Citizen December 5, 2010

OTTAWA -- Sometimes, it’s embarrassing to be a resident of Ottawa. The annual fundraising dinner of the Ottawa Public Library Foundation this week was one of those occasions.

The theme of the event was Great Cities, Great Libraries. If that’s the test, you can scratch Ottawa off the great cities list. The modest and outdated structure on Metcalfe that passes for a central library here is hardly something that we can point to with pride.

Architect Moshe Safdie gave an inspirational talk about the world’s great municipal libraries and how they help define a city’s image.

He’s designed a few himself, including landmark structures in Vancouver and Salt Lake City. It stings a bit to think that the capital of Utah is so far ahead of the capital of Canada.

The assembled business types, writers, library supporters and diplomats were told that a modern library is far more than a place to store books. It should be a cultural hub that attracts the public for all kinds of intellectual activities. Done right, it can do much to revitalize a downtown and to engage the public in learning.

This was all great to hear, but it was a reminder that Ottawa is plodding along in the second tier of cities. When it comes to constructing significant public buildings that define our city, many of us aren’t interested because they cost something.

As you may know, library supporters have been speaking wistfully about a new downtown library for many years. The city itself has been engaged in the process since 2001. It looked as if something might actually happen when the library identified the block bounded by Albert, Slater, Lyon and Bay streets as the ideal site and councillors voted 20-1 to put up $26 million to acquire the land. Unfortunately, a deal couldn’t be reached with a bank that owns part of the land.

Now the new central library is in limbo. Even its most ardent supporters can’t predict when it might be built. Mayor Jim Watson attended the event this week, but had to leave before Safdie spoke. The mayor did tell journalist Andrew Cohen that the library wasn’t on his to-do list because capital money is tight.

It’s difficult to imagine a significant capital project being undertaken during the Watson era, however long that lasts. In response to a question Friday, Watson did say he might be open to saving for the library or looking at a public-private partnership.

Watson’s go-slow approach will be popular with his fellow councillors.

Most councillors were elected on a promise to keep spending down, not up. Even the past council, despite its strong support for buying the land, had never agreed to actually build something on it.

Councillor Jan Harder, the library board chair, has been the most vocal political supporter of the project, but she says the plan is definitely on the back burner. “I don’t think there is the will with the new council.”

One of the curiosities of this city is that people are avid supporters of the library, but they haven’t evinced much enthusiasm for building a proper one downtown. Maybe it’s the free books they like the most.

The struggle to replace Ottawa’s central library is strangely similar to the debate that led up to the creation of our first library on the same site in 1906. As related by Phil Jenkins in his history of the library, Ottawans spent decades debating the need for a library.

Finally, American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie offered to build it, if Ottawa would provide a site and operate it. Even that required intensive debate at city council.

One would have hoped that in the ensuing century, we’d have grown up a bit as a city.

In the past, libraries were the responsibility of the lower-tier municipalities. Residents of the former Ottawa might reasonably have asked why they would have to bear the costs of a central library that would be used by everyone, including their friends in the suburbs who hadn’t contributed a dime.

We’re one city now, but it’s still difficult for people to see the big picture.

The new library, which is projected to be three times the size of what we have today, certainly isn’t inexpensive at a projected $180 million. The net effect of that would be to drive your taxes up about 1.5 per cent. No doubt it would be prudent to see how Lansdowne and light-rail costs turn out before committing to something else, but we shouldn’t put the future on hold. The old library requires expensive renovations. That seems like a waste of money. Sometimes, being cheap is different than being prudent.

The library foundation is wisely putting together a business case for a new central library. It’s an important step in demonstrating the need. It won’t be all about dollars and cents, though. Building a new library is fundamentally an act of imagination, in support of the imagination.

“Every library represents the soul of the city it’s in,” Harder says. Do we have one?

Contact Randall Denley at [email protected] or 613-596-3756.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/De...#ixzz17FFB8n5q

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

This was all great to hear, but it was a reminder that Ottawa is plodding along in the second tier of cities. When it comes to constructing significant public buildings that define our city, many of us aren’t interested because they cost something.

^^^^ THIS.

We are the Capital of a G8/G20 nation, and we constantly balk at height, innovation, price and new technology.

It can be so embarrassing to be from this city sometimes.

[adam-machiavelli]

Only some people complain about cost. Just stop paying attention to what these people think and get on with it!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

Only some people complain about cost. Just stop paying attention to what these people think and get on with it!

Those people, sadly, are the ones who actually vote.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

A few weeks ago I heard of a new initiative.

uOttawa, with its recent explosion of students, needs more library space.

Apparently the university is exploring the possibility of a partnership deal with the city.

The idea would be to combine resources and share costs to build one large building to act as a central public library for the city, as well as a central library for the university campus.

I have no idea if they have identified a piece of land where this could be built.

Presumably it would have to be downtown adjacent to the uOttawa campus.

Perhaps it could be in the Nicholas-Mann Gateway Precinct with its close access to the 417 and the transit tunnel that will surface near there?

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

A few weeks ago I heard of a new initiative.

uOttawa, with its recent explosion of students, needs more library space.

Apparently the university is exploring the possibility of a partnership deal with the city.

The idea would be to combine resources and share costs to build one large building to act as a central public library for the city, as well as a central library for the university campus.

I have no idea if they have identified a piece of land where this could be built.

Presumably it would have to be downtown adjacent to the uOttawa campus.

Perhaps it could be in the Nicholas-Mann Gateway Precinct with its close access to the 417 and the transit tunnel that will surface near there?

A basic simple library that all is needed and could be done for a good price.However there are some in this city that want a library that is much more then a basic library

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by reidjr

A basic simple library that all is needed and could be done for a good price.However there are some in this city that want a library that is much more then a basic library

Myself included. This should be the showpiece of Ottawa as a municipality, an icon of civic pride, an architectural gem.

Anyway, I think the uOttawa/City initiative is a great idea. It would mean a larger, more comprehensive collection, guaranteed use, and hopefully the combined budget to do this right. Money might be saved on land acquisition, since uOttawa owns alot in that part of the city.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Myself included. This should be the showpiece of Ottawa as a municipality, an icon of civic pride, an architectural gem.

Anyway, I think the uOttawa/City initiative is a great idea. It would mean a larger, more comprehensive collection, guaranteed use, and hopefully the combined budget to do this right. Money might be saved on land acquisition, since uOttawa owns alot in that part of the city.

Maybe at one point it would have been worth building a library that was a gem.However at this time with so many going online and even some cities getting away from typical library is it wise to spend $200 million plus no i don't think that is the right move.Building a nice basic library maybe even offer ebooks to citizens for $140.00 each even if you give one to every citizen its still cheaper and modern then building a massive library that many may not use.

[umbria27]

Originally Posted by reidjr

Maybe at one point it would have been worth building a library that was a gem.However at this time with so many going online and even some cities getting away from typical library is it wise to spend $200 million plus no i don't think that is the right move.Building a nice basic library maybe even offer ebooks to citizens for $140.00 each even if you give one to every citizen its still cheaper and modern then building a massive library that many may not use.

I'm with Ottawan. Archeologists can tell the priorities of a city by the investment in particular buildings. Current inhabitants can too. If you put homes in nondescript boxes, people realize that they are unimportant. If you house books in nondescript boxes, people realize that books are unimportant.
A library is much more than a warehouse and distribution point for books. It is a place where kids who don't have books at home discover that there's much more to the world.
Look at the success of Chapters, Indigo and other big book sellers in the last decade. They've consciously modeled their stores on libraries and they've drawn people who don't think of themselves as book readers. Real libraries can do the same.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by reidjr

Maybe at one point it would have been worth building a library that was a gem.However at this time with so many going online and even some cities getting away from typical library is it wise to spend $200 million plus no i don't think that is the right move.Building a nice basic library maybe even offer ebooks to citizens for $140.00 each even if you give one to every citizen its still cheaper and modern then building a massive library that many may not use.

This shows a complete lack of understanding of what a library is, particularly a modern library. It is not simply a repository for books, it is a haven for citizens. It is a truly public space where anyone can go and feel safe, comfortable, at home. It is a place where people who have lost their jobs can go to leave their home and work on their job search. It is a place where those without internet access at home can access the internet for free. It is a place where students or self-employed can work in comfort and peace. It is a place where children learn the magic of books. It is a centre from which a whole host of services can be offered - and this is particularly true of a Central Branch.

The argument that everything is going online is a poor one - we still want to be a city that is a community - a central library can be the centre of that community. The argument that we should just give people e-books is akin to saying we shouldn't build any stadium because we can save money by painting some lines somewhere in the greenbelt, and have our professional teams play there without an audience. Most people watch sports games on their TV anyway. This is not the way to build a city.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by umbria27

I'm with Ottawan. Archeologists can tell the priorities of a city by the investment in particular buildings. Current inhabitants can too. If you put homes in nondescript boxes, people realize that they are unimportant. If you house books in nondescript boxes, people realize that books are unimportant.
A library is much more than a warehouse and distribution point for books. It is a place where kids who don't have books at home discover that there's much more to the world.
Look at the success of Chapters, Indigo and other big book sellers in the last decade. They've consciously modeled their stores on libraries and they've drawn people who don't think of themselves as book readers. Real libraries can do the same.

My point is ottawa needs many thing is spending $200 million plus on a library at the top of the list.I am not saying a library is not needed it is what i am saying is we should not spend $200 million plus just so we can say wow look at how nice it looks.Yes a library is needed the key point is library we could build a nice basic library for much cheaper and it would do the job.My fear is if we build a library that is beeing built more for the look then the use is that the right way.Again its not about a library that most agree is needed the issue is do we need to build this massive complex would it get the use would the city be wise paying for it i think all of these question have to be asked.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by reidjr

My point is ottawa needs many thing is spending $200 million plus on a library at the top of the list.I am not saying a library is not needed it is what i am saying is we should not spend $200 million plus just so we can say wow look at how nice it looks.Yes a library is needed the key point is library we could build a nice basic library for much cheaper and it would do the job.My fear is if we build a library that is beeing built more for the look then the use is that the right way.Again its not about a library that most agree is needed the issue is do we need to build this massive complex would it get the use would the city be wise paying for it i think all of these question have to be asked.

You're right that it is a matter of choosing our priorities. I feel that a quality central library, even if it costs $200 million, should be a top priority.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

You're right that it is a matter of choosing our priorities. I feel that a quality central library, even if it costs $200 million, should be a top priority.

Even if that means the city has to cut funding to some programs.As for it beeing a top item with so many things that need to be done light rail a new bridge landsdown i think it would be fair down the list a bit.

[adam-machiavelli]

Who ever said $200 million will be the cost of the library? If you're going to argue against it, don't pull imaginary numbers out of an imaginary document.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

Who ever said $200 million will be the cost of the library? If you're going to argue against it, don't pull imaginary numbers out of an imaginary document.

Its not imaginary this is the number some did think it would cost.Could it have been less maybe but this was the number beeing tossed around this is not a made up number.Below is from the ontario library assoc.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Ottawa readers could be getting a new main library by 2014.

The chairwoman of the Ottawa Public Library Board, Councillor Jan Harder said this morning that the city will have to come up with almost $200 million to build a new 325,00 sq ft downtown main library which would replace the existing 90,000 sq ft library built in 1974.

"It's not old, it's just frumpy," said Harder. The current library (branch) has close to 5,000 visitors a day while a new building could accommodate more than 10,000 visits a day.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

[lrt's friend]

All I can say is that great cities have great buildings. Civic buildings should set an example. Just consider the City Hall in Philadelphia. Why should we have to put up with some cheap box of a building in the midst of our downtown? That is exactly what we have today, and it is dark and dismal and crowded. The National Art Gallery was once in one of those cheap box buildings and architecharally a national embarrassment at the time. At this stage, we need something that makes a statement, much like the new National Art Gallery. It shows progress in the city. The Central Library is the number one civic building as far as a meeting place for the public, more so than city hall, because it is designed entirely for public use. We need to find a way to address all priorities the best way we can. If there is an opportunity to have a bigger and better library shared with the University of Ottawa, I am all for it, but it has to be right downtown, not off on Mann Avenue.