Frequently Asked Questions about the new Main Library
Where will the new Main Library be located?
The new 30,000 square foot Library will be situated on the southeast corner of Main Street and Thompson Road, along with the Visual Arts Centre and Theatre, on the former Milton Hydro site. The Library portion of the complex will stretch along Main Street.
What will the hours of operation be for the new Main Library?
Any change to the Library hours of operation will be considered along with all other Town related levels of services, as annual budgets are considered by the Library Board and Milton Council.
When will the new Main Library open?
The new Library will open in 2011. The month and date for the opening of the new facility cannot yet be confirmed, but once the date is known, it will be widely advertised.
Why is the current Main Library relocating to a new site?
The decision about the growth of Milton Public Library into a multi-branch Library system is the outcome of almost a decade and a half of planning, beginning with Destiny Milton (the Town of Milton Strategic Plan). This was then followed by a number of more specific planning studies, which helped determine the preferred location for three main civic facilities: the Town Hall, the new Main Library, and the Arts and Entertainment Centre. The results of this study confirmed the preferred location for the new Library and Arts and Entertainment Centre at the old Milton Hydro site. This complex will serve as an anchor on the easterly edge of the Main Business District with the positioning of these three prominent civic spaces.
The Bruce Street location has served its community very well, but it has long since outgrown the facility. Parking, space for collections, programs, and additional staff does not meet current requirements. The accessibility of the building is also not adequate to serve the needs of our community.
The new Main Library will have much more to offer including (but not limited to): expanded space for larger, broader and deeper collections, additional resources and programs, expanded seating (including silent study space), more workstations and other needed technology features. The recently opened Beaty Branch has shown how much more a modern library facility can offer its community, and we look forward to bringing this functionality to the new location.
When the staff, collections and resources at the Bruce Street location relocate to the new facility on Main Street, new uses for the Bruce Street location will be pursued by The Town of Milton.
What are some of the features of the new Main Library?
The new Main Library will feature an abundance of natural light, along with warm, welcoming and fully accessible space available for a multitude of uses. The Children's area will be expanded, as will the area for Teens. A community gathering place around a fireplace feature will be an attractive place to read quietly. A variety of seating options (including appropriate choices for seniors and nursing mothers) will also be in place.
At the same time, staff look forward to building on the strengths suggested by the co-location of the Library with the visual and performing arts community for more dynamic and exciting programming opportunities. We are moving to a location that will provide the community with the room it needs in its Main Library.
Will the new Main Library be fully accessible?
The new Library, in addition to being fully accessible, is being planned to have senior-friendly spaces and seating, and will provide the opportunity to enhance the service level for this important segment of the Library's user group. Further, the complementary activities elsewhere in the facility (with the Visual Arts and Theatre venues) will also lend appeal, interest and options in the use of this new cultural hub.
The new Library is on a Milton Transit Route, a service that continues to improve annually. All Milton Transit buses are fully accessible.
Will there be parking onsite?
The Town of Milton owns the property to the east and to the south of the complex, and is working on a traffic and parking plan to address the entire public campus, while respecting the needs of those existing uses (Milton Leisure Centre and Milton Memorial Arena / Lions Sports Park). While at times the parking lot may be busy, we anticipate that many of the uses will be complementary in nature.
The complex will also be well positioned with links to Milton Transit and to GO Transit. There are also existing pedestrian linkages to the new site along with proposed new ones, which we hope will encourage people to not only drive, but also to walk, cycle, push strollers and take the bus to the new Arts and Entertainment Centre and Main Library.
What will happen with the existing building on Bruce Street?
The building is owned by the Town of Milton. The Town is undertaking an assessment of future use of the existing Library and adjacent administration building for other purposes, one of which may include a Seniors' Centre. The Town's 2011 Capital Budget forecast will identify the potential for re-use of this property in the future. The assessment also includes a review of the Town of Milton Seniors' Activity Centre, which is currently located on lands owned by Halton Region and under lease to the Town of Milton. The final decision will be made by Milton Council.
Who can I contact for more information?
Please contact Leslie Fitch, Chief Librarian, Milton Public Library with any questions about the new Main Library.
Phone: 905-875-2665 ext. 3252
E-mail: leslie.fitch@mpl.on.ca
www.milton.ca 905-878-7252, ext. 2580
This project is being funded in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario thanks to the Building Canada Fund - Communities Component.