Chair Luloff provided context for the referral, reminding trustees that Councillor Brockington made a delegation at the February 23 OPL Board meeting in which he requested that OPL significantly increase its in-person programming and services in River Ward by allocating $100,000 to this work in the 2023 budget. At that meeting, the Chief Librarian/CEO recommended no changes to the 2023 budget, noting that additional staff positions for Community Development had not yet been approved or filled (they are anticipated to be staffed in Summer 2023), and that without incumbents in the roles to guide and support additional community development work it would not be prudent to allocate additional funds for this work. The existing draft budget was determined to set a strong foundation for the future growth and success of OPL's community development work.
Chair Luloff mentioned that Councillor Brockington subsequently brought forward a motion to Council on March 1, 2023 that the Chair seconded, which read as follows:
- BE IT RESOLVED THAT, as a result of greater investment in community development described in the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) 2023 Budget, City Council request that the OPL Board direct its staff to initiate the activities of the community development function in Ward 16 - River Ward, meeting with the Councillor and community leaders to discuss priorities and to consider input regarding the expansion of OPL programming and services in the area.
Noting that the motion carried following a few questions from councillors and with three councillors dissenting, Chair Luloff indicated that the motion is now before the Board as Council cannot direct OPL staff: direction to OPL staff is within the Board's purview.
Chair Luloff said should the referral of the motion be approved by the Board this evening, community development work will occur in a consistent manner City-wide; however, this work will be initiated in River Ward first. He asked the Chief Librarian/CEO to add any additional context and indicate whether staff support the referral.
Ms. Bebbington confirmed that staff support the referral. She reiterated that a great deal of impactful community development work is already happening in River Ward, including in the Hunt Club and Carlington communities. She said staff met with the River Ward Councillor on April 3 regarding the work and look forward to continuing to grow the community development function by meeting with the other councillors and community leaders in each of the four wards without a branch: River, Orleans South-Navan, Riverside South - Findlay Creek, and Barrhaven East, as well as City-wide.
The Board heard from the following delegation:
John D. Reid, resident of River Ward, asked the Board to approve and act on Council's motion. He felt it was equally important to note that the Carlington neighbourhood is similarly lacking in library services. Noting the recent preliminary meeting between OPL staff and the Hunt Club Riverside Association and the Chair of the Library Committee, Ms. Christine Johnson, he underlined that community leaders asked OPL for increased services in the short term rather than funds being dedicated to planning future services. Observing that some branches have almost-daily storytimes, the Hunt Club area only has monthly storytimes by Library staff at the Community Centre, despite increased use of this facility in recent years. Mr. Reid also noted that the neighbourhood branches that currently serve Hunt Club residents (Alta Vista, Emerald Plaza, and Sunnyside) report circulation transactions that are slightly greater that the median for local urban branches, while the Greenboro branch, which was promoted as serving the Hunt Club area, is poorly located and only has 80% of the transactions of the median of district branches. He urged staff to perhaps cut back some of the services at the Greenboro branch and move these to the Hunt Club area. Adding that the OPL budget was underspent by eight percent, Mr. Reid felt that residents thus received only 92% of the services that they have paid for. He urged the Board to approve the referral motion to enhance library services in River Ward as there is an urgency to the need in this area.
Trustee Bradley thanked the delegation for his remarks and continued advocacy for increased library services in River Ward and confirmed she will be supporting the motion. Noting that the delegation referenced an under-utilization of services at the Greenboro branch, she commented that as the councillor for that ward, she could attest that residents appreciate Library services and that these are well-used. She thus would not support diverting resources from the Greenboro branch.
There being no further discussion, the referral was CARRIED as presented.
MOTION OPL 20230411/3
That the Ottawa Public Library Board approve the referral council motion.
Results: Carried