Greater Victoria needs to build a large central library in the core of the city. I would love to see something that is a world renowned building and place the idea of library and learning at the core of the city.
Ideally I see this as being a library on the scope and scale of the library in Vancouver. The Vancouver Public Library serves about 550 000 people and the GVPL serves about 300 000, the two libraries are comparable in size so the idea of a public library like the one in Vancouver is hardly unrealistic.
I would go further and make this new library the central library for BC, it should incorporate the BC Legislative library which needs a new home.
It would make sense to make this new central library a central hub of learning in the core of the city. It should house UVic, Camosun, and Royal Roads as educational partners. Ideally it would integrate with the school district, but that is not realistic in my mind.
Something on the scale of 400 000 to 500 000 square feet would seem to be a good starting point. The central branch of the Vancouver public library uses about 350 000 square feet.
I would like to see one public building in this region be the centre point of our region, to be a real landmark and to inspire us to greater things through more pride in our city.
A big beautiful central library in Victoria sounds like a better legacy for future generations than a new bridge. Or build a new recreation center.
ReplyDeleteIf the legislature library must move it would be better to incorporate it with a new GVPL than warehouse it out in Central Saanich.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a quarter-century since the Downtown GVPL relocated from the Carnegie building to its "temporary" quarters in a government office building.
The new Johnson St. Bridge will occupy Council's attention for years to come. A new library is likely far off.
Nice blog, I enjoyed the read!
ReplyDeleteSusan Jones
I agree with the need for a central library, but I'm not sure it needs to be in the core. What about somewhere around Douglas / McKenzie? Perhaps close to, although not necessarily part of, the new Uptown?
ReplyDeleteThis location would be closer to the geographical center of the region, and easy to access from the #17, #1 and McKenzie Ave. People living in downtown or Esquimalt who wanted to come to the library for the afternoon could take a nice bike ride along the Goose.
I agree that Victoria needs a new, and much larger, library. The current library was too small when it opened. I also agree that it should be downtown, although I am not sure where it would go. The building would need to be large, and it also should include some public space similar to that in the Vancouver Library. If a new library building were well done it could become the focal point of downtown Victoria and be a big asset in fighting off the tendency to try and decentralize everything.
ReplyDeleteDavid, relocating the "central" library to Uptown does nobody any favours. It makes getting to it harder for a lot of people, as downtown is the transit hub. I think the best place the library is Centennial Sq, opposite City Hall.
ReplyDeleteThe space for the new library has been in place for 12 years, however, the increase in both assessment and building costs has made the new provincial space building behind the current legislature not just on hold but finally cancelled. With a 99% occupancy of provincial ministries within provincial AND leased properties, and without a new building being constructed, there is simply no where for the library to go.
ReplyDeleteIf you wish a further example, just go look at the YMCA/YWCA fundraising board when they fundraised to build a new, fully accessible Y nearby the current location. However, by the time the money was raised (the board is still up announcing they met the goal) the price of building it had increased beyond a feasible amount (now if they used half the Y and sold them as on-site $700,000 condos, they might be able to afford it - that is only slightly tongue in cheek). In a city which happens to the be the capital the province much less the city has not let property space remain undeveloped in the greed glut of the last few years - when it pays more to knock down nice 60's houses in excellent condition to build condos or a 'free-space' design house for 800K to 1.5 million, having a library the half the size of Vancouver is no longer possible, not when city council is STILL letting developers knock down known historic buildings (listed but overlooked in the official registry) for cash development.