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Q&A
Exploring interim library space solutions for Laurelton and Rosedale
0:53:51
ยท
114 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers inquires about alternative solutions for library access in Laurelton and Rosedale due to closures. Dennis Walcott explains the challenges of finding interim spaces and the financial implications.
- QPL provides mobile library services to affected areas
- Converting alternative spaces into libraries requires expense budget, which is limited
- QPL is open to partnerships with community organizations that may not incur significant costs
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:53:51
First, I wanted to ask about interim library space.
0:53:55
Given the library closures in my district, alternative solutions can QPL explore to ensure consistent library access for residents between Laurelton and Rosedale?
0:54:10
Would QPL consider partnerships with community centers or other public spaces to provide temporary library services?
0:54:18
And I know we've already spoken offline.
0:54:20
Yep.
Dennis Walcott
0:54:20
Sure.
0:54:21
By all means.
0:54:21
So a couple of things.
0:54:22
One, as you know, we provide mobile library services to libraries similar to Laurelton in your district and we'll do that with Rose Dale as well.
0:54:32
And part of the challenge is that with alternative space, because I know people always want us to look for an alternative site, that comes out of the expense budget.
0:54:42
So again, we're drawing into expense need and a lot of it is not capitally eligible as far as the work that's required to turn an alternative space into a library.
0:54:52
So again, that's expense money.
0:54:55
But partnerships, if there's a community organization where we can partner with, we're always open to explore that because that's something that may not cost a lot of money.
0:55:05
But again, it's not as easy when people say, well there's a storefront over there or this bank closed down over there and do you want to take this particular facility to turn it into a space while work is being done.
0:55:16
That means that we're managing the capital work of the library that we're trying to reform, but at the same time paying expense dollars to have an alternative site.
0:55:25
It just doesn't line up with the budget needs.
0:55:28
But we're always interested in exploring and talking to our council colleagues around what the potential may be out there, but really laying it out as far as people understanding it's not as easy as having a finite amount of money available to us that allow us to finance alternative space.