Library looking for $152.7 million for new central library construction in budget

Saskatoon Public Library’s (SPL) new central library construction was a big chunk of the Capital Investment’s in Wednesday’s budget.

The project, totaling $152.7 million, is broken down into five parts. Just over $87.5 million is what the SPL is looking to borrow from the city, while $45.6 million will come from reserve funds for Capital Expansion and the new central library reserve.

SPL estimates that the land sales from the existing Frances Morrison Central Library will total $4.6 million, and an estimated $15 million from private donation. Carol Cooley, CEO of SPL said the numbers may change, and they played it safe.

“(We were) fairly conservative in our numbers in terms of the sale of the land, and estimated donations. If we exceed $15 million in donations, or $4.6 million in land sales, we’ll certainly be reducing our need to borrow.”

In terms of adding full time employees, the SPL is looking for three to be added over the next two years bringing their total to 153 full time equivalent staff.

In 2020, Cooley said they’re looking to make a current temporary facilities assistant full time. In 2021, the two positions are to be split into a full time and part time programmer with an additional part time finance staff member to support growth.

“As we grow as a library system in terms of our facilities, we need to ensure that we’re taking good care of our investments,” she said.

$400,000 over the next two years was also asked out of the Capital investments funds to improve technology within the Library systems.

Lisa Erickson, Chair of SPL’s board, said they tried to be as transparent as possible following the unveiling of the new build’s business case.

“We have provided all of the information as openly as we possibly can to council, as well as the public. (Our interest) is to ensure that both the public and council has all of the information they need to make a really informed decision on this project.”

As the focus now turns to November 25-27 for budget deliberations by City Council, Erickson said she’s ready to move this project along and satisfy the needs of Saskatoon.

“We cant wait to move forward with this new central library that’s aimed at meeting the needs of the community now and into the future. We have pretty significant deficits within our current site, and we know that the appetite for library services and the needs far exceed what we can offer here with the current library.”

Erickson said the Frances Morrison Central Library was built for a city population half the size of Saskatoon’s current population. It originally opened on May 28, 1966.