The Record: Library Building Should Make a Bold Statement

(Reprinted from The Record)

"Kitchener's main library should be the intellectual centre of the city. It should be a cherished asset, an indispensable information centre. The building should make a bold statement that Kitchener is part of the information age in which we are living...

Like a good book cover, the new library building should draw readers into it and make them feel that the words in the interior will enchant them. Going to the library should be an adventure; it should be more than driving to a grocery store to pick up milk. The library expansion should be built not just with bricks and mortar but with pride."

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The Record: A Great Library Should be City's Top Priority

(Reprinted from The Record)

"Life in the 21st century will be good, for workers who are educated and adaptable, and for citizens who are informed. The 21st century library is therefore an essential building block for the modern economy and the modern community. Knowing this, Kitchener council should be trying to create the best main branch library for the public that it possibly can. An investment in this library is an investment in the people and their future."

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Council Formally Approves $32.5M

At the May 12, 2008, Finance and Corporate Service Committee, Council approved the allocation of $32.5M towards renovating and expanding the current Main Library. Support from Council on this motion was unanimous. Council further directed KPL and City staff to work on a funding plan for Options 2 and 3 with a goal of reporting back to Council in September 2008.

Thank you for helping KPL reach this important first milestone.

Finance and Corporate Services Committe Minutes - May 12, 2008

Public Presentation at Finance and Corporate Service Committee

rych mills, President of the Waterloo Historical Society, addressed the Finance and Corporate Service Committee and expressed his support for the Central Library project:

(reprinted courtesy of rych mills)

"The current library is nearing the age of the Carnegie Library when it had served its time but 85 Queen North is ready-aye-ready to give many more years of service and the best way to keep it a vital part of not only the downtown but of the entire city and region is to give it the best 'second-life' possible. As a lifeling resident of Kitchener-Waterloo, mostly in this core area of Kitchener, I can recall the old library at Queen and Weber. Libraries were much different then and a young boy certainly tiptoed with sealed lips through the shelves. There is little tiptoeing and few sealed lips nowadays, but that is change. There are future authors, researchers, scientists, business leaders, perhaps even politicians curled up in a chair at 85 Queen North right now as I speak, captured by a book. We must ensure there is proper room for that book, for that chair, for that person.

The councillors of that early 60s era saw the future and took the necessary steps to ensure Kitchener residents had the best possible resource center/library. My old main library, the Carnegie, was gladly discarded to embrace this new, spacious, wide aisled, brightly-lit library, my new library.

Like most citizens, I believe, I think the library is the closest thing I feel that I own in the city as a citizen. I can enter those doors and I can end up anywhere in the world. I can listen to the greatest minds of our civilization talking to me. I can dream of the future or wallow in the past...

Those coucillors of five decades ago had a vision and created a structure which took us form the 19th century into the 20th. I am confident that our current councillors can take a similar step to move our library into the 21th century. Please support Option Three."

Read the entire presentation here.

Meg Crawford spoke about her passion for the library and her support for the library's plan to renovate and expand the Main Library:

(reprinted courtesy of Meg Crawford)

"It is not an overstatement to say that my experience of living in Kitchener has been hugely enhanced by my experience as a regular library user and I'm grateful that I discovered it right at the beginning of my time here. I always spread the word to friends and co-workers about the great things that are there for you at the library...

I encourage the Council to give this community a first-class library that will meet our needs for many years to come, which I believe is the 3rd option... I envision our new main library as a place that would draw people from all over the city to attend programs, or to sit in the cafe and browse through books and magazines, or to use the computer terminals for Internet access."

Read the entire presentation here.

Support Your Library

On Monday, May 12 the Kitchener Public Library Board will ask City Council to approve funds that have been set aside for enhancing the Main Library on Queen Street. Your support is essential. Please let Council know Kitchener needs an enhanced central library.

Show your support
Attend the Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting

Monday May 12
Kitchener City Hall Council Chambers
2:00 p.m.

Finance and Corporate Services Committee Agenda – Monday May 12, 2008

Kitchener Public Library Central Library Project Update

The Record: Kitchener Should Expand Its Library

(Reprinted courtesy of The Record)

"There is no better way for a city to spend public money than to invest in public libraries. In this electronic age where information bursts through wires at the speed of light, the public library is the great equalizer, the great conveyor of literacy, culture, knowledge and thought to everyone -- regardless of who they are, where they live or how rich they may be ..."

Read the entire article here