The future for Coquitlam Public Library opened last week as city council OK’d its long-awaited strategy for more branches, as well as a new operational model.
Facilities staff presented the Library Services and Spaces Strategy, the city’s first blueprint for how the library will grow to meet residents’ demand.
But how the strategy will unfold will depend on the funding tools allowed by the provincial government under its new development rules, staff say.
Cumbered by provincial mandates, Coquitlam lists 2025 priorities https://t.co/bzwsflq1jY
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) October 8, 2024
Approved last month by the library’s volunteer board and unanimously by council Dec. 9, the strategy lays out a 30-year plan based on population, changing demographics, geographical distribution, accessibility, walkability, access to transit, diversity of needs, operational efficiencies and financial responsibilities.
Specifically, the strategy calls for a “Hub and Spoke” model that’s used in large Canadian cities — that is, having a central hub with satellite branches.
In Coquitlam’s case, the City Centre branch will be the main library for the municipality as the new Burke Mountain branch (tied to the new Northeast Community Centre) is built in 2028; the new Burquitlam branch is built between 2035–2045; and the Poirier branch is “reimagined” between 2035–2045.
The existing City Centre branch, now connected to Henderson Centre mall, will eventually move to a larger civic precinct as the neighbourhood is developed under the City Centre Area Plan Update; however, its new iteration won’t be seen until 2045–2055, when the population is expected to swell to more than 250,000 residents.
Currently, Coquitlam provides 0.40 sq. ft. of library space for every 100,000 residents. By comparison, North Vancouver offers 0.76 sq. ft. while Prince George and Burnaby provide 0.54 sq. ft. and 0.41 sq. ft. to their respective populations.
Council reaction
Coquitlam Coun. Matt Djonlic, a library board trustee, said the “Hub and Spoke” model with a centralized facility “is the best fit for a community of our size.”
And he said the strategy alerts developers about upcoming civic amenities that could potentially be linked with their housing and/or commercial projects.
“I think libraries do a lot of good for our community and this is an exciting strategy that maps out what that future can look like,” Djonlic told council last Monday.
Still, Coun. Brent Asmundson said he wants future branches to be functional and have a cost-effective design. He cited the new Surrey Library building, which he said is well-built but claimed it has “a tremendous amount of unusable space.”
Planning now for capital projects “has had to take into account the funding realities and the changes with the provincial government” on its housing mandates, said Lanny Englund, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks, recreation, culture and facilities.
And city manager Raul Allueva reiterated Coquitlam is "evolving" its financial frameworks from the bonus density to an amenity cost charges (ACC) system.
Still, he warned, that new system has yet to be fully explained by the province, thereby placing B.C. municipalities in a difficult position for new projects.
Recent changes
This summer, Coquitlam Public Library rebranded with a logo that features elements of dialogue, technology and books.
Coquitlam Public Library rebrands with fish, river logo https://t.co/dkfc4qa23W
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) July 5, 2024
The move followed a leadership change in February 2023 with the departure of the executive director.
Earlier this year, the library also rolled out its new Library Link vehicle for underserved neighbourhoods.
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