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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY |
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INTRODUCTION |
The
Executive Summary presents an overview of the proposed Central Library
facility, including: |
·
An Extraordinary Building;
·
Strategic Rationale for the Central Library;
·
Planning Horizon;
·
Library and Archives Synergy and Co-location Study;
·
Key Planning Concepts;
·
Functional Components;
·
Anticipated Size of the Building;
·
Anticipated Public Seats;
·
Anticipated Technology Workstations;
·
Anticipated Staffing; and
·
Cost of the Building.
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AN EXTRAORDINARY BUILDING |
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“…A library, to modify the famous
metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas…”
- Norman Cousins |
The
project involves the planning, design and construction of a new central
branch of the Ottawa Public Library as the coordinating centre of the Ottawa
Public Library and a key civic focal point in Ottawa. The new Central Library is the one of the
Ottawa Public Library Board’s Strategic Directions in tandem with the
maintenance and development of library branches. |
“Information is the
currency of democracy.”
- Thomas Jefferson
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The
genesis of this project reflects the efforts of the Ottawa Public Library
Board, the City of Ottawa, and Library and City staff to establish the best
alternative in building a Central Library that fully empowers the entire
Ottawa Public Library, a library worthy of a national capital and a city of
over 900,000. |
Based on several years of strategic planning and assessment on the part of the Library staff and the Library Board, the new Central Library was identified as a critical necessity to support much needed expansions in community gathering space, collection size, information technology infrastructure, and the delivery of system-wide services.
“Libraries are the custodians of
civilization.”
- Barbara Conney
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Repeatedly throughout the
extensive planning process, the success of urban library renewal projects in
other large cities was cited as the catalyst for dramatic increase in public
utilization of library services. |
The new Central Library will optimize access to
traditional services and collections and to new and emerging media and
technology. It will facilitate
community interaction in an expansive mix of informal and formal meeting
places, and provide
dynamic and meaningful educational, cultural, and social experiences for
children, teens, adults and seniors.
“Our links to the past, our bonds with
the present, our path to a civilized tomorrow, are all maintained by
libraries.”
- Adrienne Clarkson |
In addition, a new Central Library will fulfill the critical, symbolic, civic, and community role now played by major urban libraries. The building will be a permanent addition to the civic and urban landscape of the City of Ottawa, and catalyst for significant new growth and development. |
The project will enable the City of Ottawa to participate as an international capital in the renaissance in library construction that has taken place in recent years, with new or planned new central libraries in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, Singapore, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Nashville, Austin, Halifax, and Calgary.
The Central Library will be a
local, regional, national and international destination and an invaluable
resource and inspiration for current and future generations.
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STRATEGIC RATIONALE |
A Central Library is
a critical component of the Library system. Key aspects of the rationale for
the building include: |
1.
Service
Enhancement of the Library System
Within a library
system, the size of the components (community branches, district libraries,
central library etc.) relates to the role those components play in delivering
library services.
While the branch
libraries may be characterized as local, district libraries can be said to be
regional, and the Central Library may be said to be metropolitan.
Branch libraries are
akin to neighbourhood convenience stores, providing frequently sought after
items from a nearby location. Branches
serve their catchment area with services defined by that catchment area, some large,
some small.
District libraries
exist due to the geography of the region served by the system. They are designed to deliver an
intermediate, complementary level of service.
District libraries do not compete with the Central Library; instead they
play a supporting role. District
libraries are regional, serve both a specific catchment area and include other
branch catchment areas, providing an intermediate level of service.
The Central Library is
like a department store, where any item may be found and comprehensive services
are located. It is also an operations centre for the whole system. The Central Library provides citywide
services. It may also serve as a
community branch to its immediate community and as a district branch to its
general surroundings.
However, it is critical
to note that these components are all elements of a one-library system that
provides access to all system resources at all locations or entry points. Any circulating item can be, and is, moved
as needed to residents at their chosen entry point.
The Central Library
supports circulation of materials at the district and branch libraries through
the sharing of its wider and deeper collection and the provision of specialized
resources and expertise.
2.
A
Permanent Addition to the Urban Landscape
Central Library
buildings typically provide a distinguished city landmark, a symbolic presence
and a sense of civic identity.
Although this
expectation also exists for district and branch libraries, the Central Library
is expected to be more prominent, providing a natural highly visible gathering
place within the urban fabric of the city and a primary interface with all
levels of civic government.
3.
A
Multi-Purpose Family Destination
A Central Library
provides a full spectrum of library services, involving specialized resources
and expertise that cannot be provided at district or branch locations due to
staffing, facilities, and operational limitations.
Due to the range of
materials, and scope of program activities, including those for children and
teens, and the special facilities and services provided, the Central Library
functions as a unique and multifaceted destination for families.
4.
A
Destination for Artistic and Cultural Activities
Many of the resources
provided in the Central Library provide extensive support for diverse creative
and cultural activities taking place in the community. Many complex synergies exist between Library
programs and arts and cultural programs.
5.
Home
of a Comprehensive Collection
The Central Library is
distinguished by its extensive, comprehensive, in-depth collections, which
cannot be duplicated in each Library location.
These include materials and resources in all subject areas, including
local history, multilingual materials, and bilingual materials.
The availability of the
enhanced collection means that the Central Library is a resource for the entire
system; the Central Library can be expected to have resources that other
branches will not have. The presence of
comprehensive materials removes the need to replicate similar materials
throughout the system making those materials available to the whole system
Because of the
specialized and unique materials in its collection, it is reasonable to expect
that some components of the Central Library collection may have lower
circulation statistics than the branch system libraries.
6.
Coordination
Point for Specialized Services
The Central Library is
distinguished by the extensive, comprehensive, in-depth expertise of its
professional bilingual staff, an expertise that could not be duplicated in each
library location.
This expertise includes
specialized knowledge in all subject areas, including references services,
technology design, application and maintenance, special collections,
multilingual materials, children’s programs and services, teen services, and
services for the disadvantages and those with special needs.
The availability of
these services at the Central Library acts as a resource for the entire
system. For example, central
information and children’s services provide momentum for system wide services
in these areas.
Staff members at the
Central Library take a lead role in the development and ongoing implementation
of programs involving system wide staff training.
7.
Coordination
Point for System-Wide Operations
The Central Library is
the coordinating and operations centre for the distributed Library system; it
manages services that are used throughout the system, including program
delivery, materials distribution, collection growth and development, staff
training functions, and electronic and technological services.
8.
Branch
Library for Downtown Residents and Commuters
The Central Library is
not only the coordinating centre for the system; it is also the local
neighbourhood branch library for the immediately adjacent community. This community may be residential, or
commuter based, or a combination of both.
In the future, it is
anticipated that more people will be residents of downtown Ottawa and that a
there will continue to be a considerable commuter population. For both residents and commuters, the
downtown library will serve as a daytime local community branch library.
As such, the Central
Library must fulfill two roles. In
different ways, it serves the people of the whole region as well of those of
the immediate vicinity. It also serves
as a district library for the central district.
9.
Home
of Unique Physical Facilities
Many library programs
require unique resources and spaces. These spaces include auditorium and
exhibition space, seminar facilities, children’s and teen programs areas,
language and literacy laboratories, technology training facilities, and also
special services (e.g. assistive technology labs), and music labs, among
others.
These spaces are
typically accommodated in a central library, since they could not be separately
provided at multiple locations throughout the system.
10.
A
Response to the Size and Growth of the Population
The primary driver of
almost all the preceding points is the growth of the city population. The Library system and its individual
physical components are designed to respond to population growth and
distribution using an elegant and streamlined approach to effective and
efficient services.
As the population increases, the workload for
each of the components increases.
Components that were once new may now be under scaled, antiquated, and
functionally inefficient; components must be periodically enlarged and
upgraded, and new components must be added.
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PLANNING
HORIZON |
A planning horizon for the project was established at 2032 or 25-years
into the future. |
No planning horizon was
established for the life of the facility; the building is intended to be a
permanent sustainable addition to the fabric of the City.
The building must be planned for ongoing
flexibility, easy adaptability, and optimally efficient operation.
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LIBRARY
AND ARCHIVES SYNERGY AND CO-LOCATION STUDY |
The Library and
Archives Synergy and Co-location Study recommended: 1. Relocation
of Library Collection Development, Technical Services, and Central
Distribution Functions to a centrally located facility shared with the City
Archives. |
2. These functions were initially included in the list of functional components in Section 6 Physical Parameters.
3. Development of a major Archives Public Service – the City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway and its co-location in the proposed Central Library.
4. A specific site for the Central Library based on the Site Selection criteria identified as Appendix B in this Project Parameters document.
5. These recommendations did not anticipate any increase or decrease in the overall size of the central facility or the proposed archives facility; they represented only a change in terms of functional composition.
6. The list of Central Library components below reflects the recommendations made in the Synergy and Co-location Study.
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KEY PLANNING CONCEPTS |
Key planning concepts for the proposed Central Library were established as follows: |
Establish the Central Library as a major feature of downtown urban life, including pronounced visibility, striking architectural imagery, multi-purpose exterior space, and accessible gathering and exhibit spaces. Integrate the building with transportation routes and establish the Library as a major city destination.
Include the City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway as a cultural focal point providing showcase exhibits explaining the City, its history and its constituent communities.
Be a Catalyst for Urban Development
Plan and design the building to act as a catalyst
for meaningful growth and development of the surrounding area.
Include a Community Forum
The building will support the Library’s role as a public forum for the City of Ottawa. Locate a major indoor concourse, with auditorium and meeting room facilities located at the front door of the Library, adjacent to surrounding streets and sidewalks. Ensure access must be independent of library operations.
Anticipate a Highly
Active Building
Anticipate a building that is highly active,
except in areas uniquely designed to be quiet.
Include Print and Digital
Collections
Digital storage, display, and communications
technology has exponentially expanded the traditional scope of library
services. The modern library is now a critical element in a vast public
information infrastructure.
The new facility will be technologically
sophisticated, providing the public and staff with greatly expanded access to
electronic resources and optimizing the operational efficiencies that new
building systems can provide.
Showcase a Central Focal Point of Technology
Locate a major concentration of technology and technology support services within the building and involve the public in the exploration and development of new and emerging technologies.
Develop a local community library within the Library for the adjacent residential and working communities as a highly visible, accessible and independently operable component of the Central Library facility.
Create a Destination for Children
Make a special place for children, parents, and
families, including services, technology, spatial features and collections that
correspond to children’s developmental stages.
Showcase a unique, independent space for self-directed teens, including technology, collections, and flexible and creative project space,
Emphasize self-service concepts and ease of access and orientation. Locate high traffic ‘public’ components closest to the front door, and study and research public components further from the front door. Make the building easy to understand.
Develop a system of meaningful interior spaces, including auditorium, meeting rooms, reading rooms, World News Centre, Children’s program space, Teens project space, Languages and Literacy Centre, Business and Careers Centre, Local History and Genealogy Centre, Carnegie Lounge, and Civic Suite and Boardroom.
Accommodate future changes in services and technological requirements by making the interior of the building fully modifiable. Include multi-functional staff workstations, minimize permanent walls to ensure a flexible floor plate, and provide flexible access to power and cabling infrastructures through raised floors and/or other flexible systems.
Include space that can accommodate future expansion.
Plan for a permanent and sustainable building
structure and envelope designed for maximum energy efficiency.
Design
the building to facilitate partial operation.
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COLLECTION
SIZE |
The Central Library collection will increase from approximately 500,000
items to approximately 710,000 items. |
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FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS |
The proposed new
Central Library will be physically organized into 13 spatially discrete
functional components. These
components reflect the strategic decisions made in the Library and Archives
Synergy and Co-location Study. |
Each of these will be described in the subsequent Functional Program in terms of functional profile, workload, user accommodation, staffing levels, optimal adjacencies, spatial, operational and technical concepts and detailed spaces required.
Concourse,
Meeting Rooms, and Ancillary Services, with a grand public concourse and atrium, formal meeting and
presentation spaces, a 300-seat lecture style auditorium with stage, the
Library store, and Friends of the Library bookshop, as well as privately
operated services that augment the services of the Library.
The
City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway, with a unique gallery and
multi-purpose space featuring permanent and temporary exhibits and cultural
events that showcase the history, geography and community profile of the City
of Ottawa.
Welcome
Centre, the main public entrance and exit from the Library
housing the materials drops, self-service quick information centre, public
service desk and self-service functions, and a welcome centre to orient new
users and newcomers.
Community Library, a downtown community library within the Library, with high volume, new, recent and topical materials from all collections on display shelving, and special library services.
Children’s Services, a library within the Library for young Library users; supporting children’s reference services, collections, and an array of reading, program and computer spaces for the toddler to the child development professional.
Teen
Zone, with special collections and accommodations designed for young
Library users, including technology workstations, social space.
Fiction,
Newspapers and Magazines,
which celebrates the book and includes the fiction collection, newspapers and
magazines, and extensive public and staff workspace and the World News Centre.
Technology,
Communications and Digital Services, the greatest concentration
of technology in the building includes Emerging Technologies and Digital
laboratories, extensive public and staff workspace, and the Friends of the
Library.
Learning Centre A: Languages and Literacy Centre, includes a major portion of the non-fiction collection, Language and Literacy Centre, extensive public and meeting space associated staff workspace, and a quiet room for general reflection.
Learning Centre B: Business and Careers Centre, which includes a continuation of the non-fiction collection, and includes the Business and Careers Centre, extensive public study and meeting space, staff workspace, and a public conference room.
Learning Centre C: Local History and Genealogy Centre, which includes the final portion of the non-fiction collection, the Local History and Genealogy Centre, extensive public study and meeting space, staff workspace, and the Carnegie Lounge.
Administrative
Services, with staff workspaces and public meeting spaces for
the Library administration, the Ottawa Public Library Board, and the Ottawa
Public Library Foundation.
Materials Handling and Operations, with collection materials sorting and handling areas, and maintenance workshops required to support the Library collection circulation system and operation of the central facility.
Leasable Space, includes expansion space for Library activities beyond the 25-year planning horizon of this study. On an interim basis, this space will support non-library functions, including revenue-generating activities.
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ANTICIPATED SIZE |
Based on the application of accepted library planning standards to the forecast city population, the proposed area of the Central Library building was established at approximately 325,000 square feet. |
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ANTICIPATED PUBLIC SEATS |
The Central Library will include approximately 1,900 public seats, including a 300-seat auditorium, multiple meeting rooms, seats in children’s services, study stations, and casual and incidental seating. |
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ANTICIPATED TECHNOLOGY WORKSTATIONS |
The Central Library will include
approximately 800 technology stations, including self check-in and check-out,
printing and copying, computer laboratory, language laboratory, assistive
learning, television display, general information, direction and way-finding,
and personal workstations. |
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ANTICIPATED STAFFING |
Detailed functional planning is expected to
determine a staff complement of approximately 280 FTE positions will be
required to operate the building. |
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COST OF THE BUILDING |
No Financial Parameters were established at
the beginning of the project. Cost
estimates are anticipated as part of the Library and Archives Synergy and
Co-location Study and at the conclusion of the development of the Functional
Program. |