Ottawa Library Board to consider new branch in Hintonburg

Community library supporters are often thankful for every dollar they can getto improve their local branch.

But fans of the Rosemountlibrary branch in Hintonburghave said thanks,but no thankstoa million dollars, earmarked for renovations to the1918 building.

Instead they want a new, bigger facility, somewhere nearby.

"We have heard clearly from community consultations that the current facility issimplytoo smalland we've heard from thelibrary staff that it can't be expanded in any significant way," saidRichard Van Loon of theRosemountExpansion and Development [READ]groupat a meeting ofthe Ottawa Library Board Tuesdaynight.

The board agreed to bringtwo options to itsbudget consultationsin November.

One will be to approve close to amillion dollars for renovations to the library.Those renovations would probably begin next year.

The other isto put the renovations on hold, while it asks city staffto look at the business case formoving the library to a new location.

"If we're going to be able to afford to do this, chances are it will have to be on a piece of land that is city-owned," saidJeffLeiper, thecouncillorfor the ward.

He says onepossiblyisrenovating and expanding the nearby HintonburgCommunity Centre to include a library.

Rosemount's fate may be tied to central library decision

The fate of Rosemountbuildingcomes at the same time asthe libraryboard is trying to find a new site for a central library.

One area under consideration isLeBretonFlats, just east of Hintonburg.

TheRosemountbranch isthe only originalCarnegielibrary still standing in the city.

Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegiehelped fund the construction of thousands of libraries around the worldin the late 1800s and early 1900s.