I was delighted to read in letters to the Gazette of support for more space for the St. Albert Public Library. Our wonderful library in St. Albert Place reached capacity more than a decade ago and it is heartening that St. Albertans recognize that the matter is now a pressing one. Our library is more popular than ever, with over a million loans in 2014. And as St. Albert grows, the space issue becomes ever more critical.
However, the Library Board knows that St. Albertans love their library in its current downtown location. Any talk about moving from St. Albert Place is met with real concern from residents, who tell us they don’t want their library to move. We have examined all the options thoroughly, most recently with a Feasibility Update Report in 2014 (available at www.sapl.ca). Staying in St. Albert Place but adding a community branch library elsewhere in the city is the best, most cost-effective solution to St. Albert’s need for expanded library space. A community branch in the north of the city would meet the needs of that growing community and would also help alleviate pressures on the existing downtown facility.
As to the suggestion that the library move to the Target space in St. Albert Centre, we reached out to mall management. We were advised that the vision for the Target space is additional retail in order to strengthen the mall’s overall retail offerings. At 117,000 square feet, the space is much larger than we require and we know from the Feasibility Report that the cost for renovations would be prohibitive.
Thank you St. Albert for your ideas and your support. Our proposal for a north side community branch library is moving forward. We hope you’ll join us as your library branches out.
Kiersten Crane (library trustee), St. Albert
