HomeMy WebLinkAboutKPL - Central Library Project Update - February 8, 2006KITCHENER PUBLIC LIBRARY • '
Report To: Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting: February 13, 2006
Submitted By: Kitchener Public Library Board
Prepared By: Sonia Lewis, CEO
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: February 8, 2006
Subject: Kitchener Central Library Project Update
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
At its February 6, 2006 meeting Finance and Corporate Services Committee received an
update on the Central Library project from the Kitchener Public Library Board. This
report addresses questions raised at that meeting.
REPORT:
Size of Main Librarv and Its Additions
The Main Library was built in 1962 to serve a population of 73,000 and was 67,000
gross square feet (gsf). Approximately 5,000 gsf were added in 1978. That 72,000 gsf
library served a population of 131,875. A second addition of approximately 10,000 gsf
was done in 1995 bringing the total square footage to 81,850 gsf. At that time the
estimated population was 180,700. Today the Main Library is still 81,850 gsf and serves
an estimated population of 203,417.
The recommended standard for central libraries is .55 gsf per capita. To serve a
population of 234,500 the Kitchener Main Library should be 128,975 gsf. No similar
standards have been established for determining the size of branch libraries.
Library Space in Other Communities
On an annual basis Canadian public libraries exchange data on total library space. The
latest comparative data available was collected in 2004 and is summarized below.
Building projects underway or completed in 2005 are not reflected in this data.
1
Kitchener Central Library Project Update
February 8, 2006
2004 Annual Canadian Public Library Statistics
Cities with Population <400,000 and >100,000
Total Library Soace Includina Branches in Each Citv
Library Name
Population
No.
Locations Total
space
in sq. ft
Vancouver Island Regional Library 399,155 37 147,912
Surrey Public Library 390,288 10 130,300
Brampton Library 386,000 5 121,684
Laval - Vie communautaire, culture et communications 359,707 10 124,967
Halifax Public Libraries 359,183 15 209,843
London Public Library 336,539 16 307,606
Greater Victoria Public Library 287,020 8 125,902
Markham Public Libraries 257,419 6 119,102
Vaughan Public Libraries 240,000 7 120,603
Bibliotheque municipale de Gatineau 239,000 11 92,990
Windsor Public Library 208,000 9 148,473
Saskatoon Public Library 206,505 7 138,900
Burnaby Public Library 205,261 4 99,000
Kitchener Public Library 203,417 5 126,440
Regina Public Library 191,400 9 154,550
Albert-Westmorland-Kent Library Region 191,078 15 62,035
Richmond Public Library 174,201 4 69,758
Saint John Library Region 167,682 10 92,795
Burlington Public Library 160,550 6 73,270
Oakville Public Library 155,700 5 89,044
Greater Sudbury Library 155,000 13 90,000
Oshawa Public Library 150,000 3 82,000
Kingston Frontenac Public Library 139,407 17 99,161
St. Catharines Public Library 130,000 4 84,832
Cape Breton Regional Library 126,331 13 37,647
Service des bibliotheques - Ville de Levis 126,000 11 79,290
Barrie Public Library 125,000 1 41,500
Coquitlam Public Library 122,709 2 39,000
Cambridge Public Library 120,000 4 65,175
Thunder Bay Public Library 109,016 4 59,656
Chatham-Kent Public Library 107,341 11 46,345
Waterloo Public Library 106,951 2 38,800
Annapolis Valley Regional Library 100,287 14 21,643
Respectfully submitted by,
Sonia Lewis, CEO Kitchener Public Library