myHamilton.ca | discover, participate, learn and grow

Share Your Thoughts with Board Members and Staff on February 10^th & 18^th

HAMILTON, ON. – February 4, 2010 – Building a new branch in Waterdown is one of the Hamilton Public Library Board’s top priorities. Public consultations will be held on February 10^th from 2-4 p.m. and again from 6-8 p.m. as well as on February 18^th from 6-8 p.m. at the Flamborough Municipal Service Centre.

“The Waterdown community is under-served when it comes to library service,” said Santina Moccio, Chair of the Hamilton Public Library Board. “To ensure that Waterdown residents have access to a high level of library service, the Board is looking to replicate the success seen in other areas of the city such as in Ancaster and at the stunning new Turner Park Branch on the South Mountain. The proposed new Waterdown library will feature more public access computers as well as a computer lab, space for group study, personal WiFi use, programs and sufficient rooms for collections.”

Given that the current Waterdown Branch is small and that there are considerable limitations due to its Heritage designation, the space cannot be renovated or expanded for library purposes. New accessibility code requirements would call for expanded washroom and elevator facilities that would impede upon the already limited space available for library services.

The Library Board has an approved budget of $5.3 million which is restrictive considering it will be needed to cover land, construction, furnishings and the cost of an expanded collection. A number of options have been pursued in order to find a suitable site including reviewing redundant sites with both school boards, working with a real estate agent and considering potential city-owned sites in the area.

In December 2008, the Library Board asked the City of Hamilton for permission to consider building a new library on the site of the former Flamborough Town Hall. This is the only site that meets all of the Library’s requirements and could entail building a new community complex including partners already on-site such as the Municipal Service Centre. Last December, the Library Board sent a report to City Council recommending that the City consider partnering to construct a single, multi-use facility.

“The Hamilton Public Library has had great success working with partner organizations,” said Moccio. “The popular Ancaster Branch shares space with the Municipal Service Centre on Wilson Street. On the South Mountain, a community destination was created with the new Les Chater YMCA and Turner Park Branch, alongside the Central Mountain Police Station, a new skateboard park and City park.”

The Hamilton Public Library Board wants to hear from you about service in Waterdown:

Public Consultations for Proposed Waterdown Branch

-       Wednesday, February 10^th at 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm

-       Thursday, February 18^th from 6-8 p.m.

Flamborough Municipal Service Centre

163 Dundas Street East, Highway #5

For additional background information including the Board motions, Hamilton Public Library Facilities Master Plan and more visit www.hpl.ca.

About Hamilton Public Library

The Hamilton Public Library (HPL) serves the residents of the City of Hamilton with 24 branch locations and two Bookmobiles. With over 3 million in-person visits and 2.8 million on-line visits, Hamiltonians borrowed a record-breaking 6 million books, CDs and DVDs in 2009. For more information, visit www.hpl.ca, contact askHPL@hpl.ca or call 905.546.3200.

- 30 -

Media Contact:

Rob Plant

Manager, Communications & Community Development

Hamilton Public Library

rplant@hpl.ca

905.546.3200 Ext. 6342