Compared to communities of similar size, Bowen Island has a library that has a high number of users and is in the lowest bracket for space a discrepancy that Tina Nielsen, the chief librarian, brought to council's attention at the council meeting on June 22. The solution? To include the library in the plans for the community centre.
Tina Nielsen explained that the library board looked at the library's long term need. "In our strategic planning session, the board decided that we needed to come up with a long-term strategic plan and we hired [consultant] Florrie Levine," Nielsen said, adding that Levine completed the report and presented it to library board. "At this time, we would like to proceed with the request to include the library in the planning for the community centre," Nielsen said. "We feel that having the library there will be of mutual benefit for other community centre stakeholders."
Nielsen explained that the library currently has about 100 users a day and would bring a great synergy to the project. "We've looked at the current location of the library," she said. "and the report has identified a number of deficiencies. It was the board's decision to look for future spaces for the library outside the building we are in now."
Andrea Little, the library's board chair, spoke about the rich history of Bowen's library. "It began as a small reading room," she said, adding that libraries enhance community and are vital elements of a democratic society as they ensure equal access to information.
"It was a significant milestone when we become a municipal library. Since then, we've improved seating, increased shelving and made an effort to respond to the emerging needs of the community," Little said, giving examples such as supporting home-base businesses and improved access to and education about technology.
"Our goal is to develop a multi-functional community space that meets the changing needs of our community for individuals as well as groups," Little said.
To compile a report about the library, Florrie Levine of FHL Consulting has looked at a wide range of components including the roles of the library, space details and limitations. She has also evaluated data from B.C. public library statistics that look at 14 small communities. Bowen Island ranks seventh in population size but its library ranks 11th when it comes to square footage. Levine's report draws attention to the fact that, of all the facilities in that group, Bowen has the lowest ratio of library area compared to population size.
Levine has also considered the option of combining the library with the community centre. "Ideally, this would be increasing the vitality and use of both facilities," she said. "It opens the door to sharing operating and capital cost, increase joint programming and harmonize service hours. In short, it would be a more economic use of municipal dollars."
Nielsen added that the library is associated with a charitable organization that has the option of fundraising. She sees the library turning into learning commons, providing spaces for small group and individuals to use their own computers or library computers. "The role of the library as gateway to books has changed. Now there are added aspects. It is important to provide free and public access to resources and promote technological literacy," Nielsen said. "So far, you don't see libraries shrinking their spaces."
Nielsen explained that the library adds 2000 to 2500 titles every year but has to withdraw the same amount of material. "We end up withdrawing things that are still popular because there is no space," she said. "And when people come in and ask for it, we say, 'We had it but had to get rid of it last year.'" Nielsen added that the library received community feedback that identified a bigger collection - more on the shelves - as something Bowen residents wanted to see.
Councillor Wolfgang Duntz expressed himself pleased with the report and said that this assessment confirmed his belief that the library would be a good fit for the community centre. "There is hardly a group that is as disciplined and professionally run as the library and this report supports that notion. This gives council a level of comfort in the decision making process," he said. "My hope is that the library will turn out to be the glue that holds things together. A community centre without a library is not really a community centre." Duntz also said that he sees the library's influence as "calming."
Councillor Alison Morse spoke about the trend to read e-books and Councillor Tim Rhodes said he sees potential for the library to be an incredible vibrant community space much like what he observed in the newly completed Surrey Library. "It's a space for all ages from students from elementary age to college age and seniors. I've never been in a library that has so much space that is not dedicated to books."
Levine added that one third of libraries in B.C. are shared facilities and they are most commonly shared with community centres. Council referred the library's report to the Bowen Island Community Centre Implementation Committee.
