Rosemount Revitalization Update | for February 5th, 2019
The newly appointed Ottawa Public Library Board will be holding its first meeting on Tuesday, February 5th. At that meeting the Board will be receiving a Rosemount Branch Revitalization Report from the OPL staff following the December consultation. Here is the link to that report and some key content below.
” Following submission of Board Report Rosemount Revitalization Project Update (OPLB2018-1203) and presentation of the preliminary design to the Board in December 2018, the preliminary design was shared with the community during two days of engagement. Feedback was positive.
The final design, based on the enhanced option, will be tabled at the February 2019 Board meeting and then displayed to the public for information. In addition, the request for $400K to fund the enhanced option, will be included in the draft 2019 budget as per direction received by the Board in December 2018. …
By virtue of approving the Rosemount branch revitalization project, the Board has approved the 10-12 month closure of the branch, and no further request will follow budget adoption.
The project is targeted for construction tender in March, pending budget adoption. Construction is anticipated for spring 2019 with completion in winter 2019/2020. In order to continue services to the community during construction, OPL will operate out of a temporary location at 1207 Wellington West. The temporary location will provide a
carefully curated collection of materials in all formats, holds pick-up, book return, public computer access, Wi-Fi, and printing. Programming will be delivered in the community. The temporary location will open to the public in late spring 2019, two days after the branch closes for revitalization. …
The preliminary design was displayed for community input on December 13 and December 15, 2018, with +VG and OPL staff present to address questions and receive feedback. Close to 200 people were engaged over the two days. There was a diverse age range of participants – children, teens and adults – and many new people who were not part of the earlier consultation meetings. Staff received positive feedback on the
proposed entry, increased public space, new meeting rooms and reading nooks. “
Rosemount Revitalization Update | January 2019 by READ Rosemount
On December 13 and 15, the Ottawa Public Library held its second open house and consultation on the revitalization of the Rosemount Library.
Click here for all the materials presented. This includes the results of the online survey, a summary of the public consultation discoveries during the Fall, a proposed site plan and the proposed concept design. The room was lively. Representatives from +VG Architects (project design and architecture) were on hand to explain the boards and answer questions
READ Rosemount writes to OPL Board following December consultations | January 21, 2019
Read is encouraged by the hard work undertaken by the architects VG+, the OPL Staff and Board. READ has been passionate about improving Rosemount for years and we are excited to see a glimpse of what the future holds for our favourite local branch. … The new glass feature will pull the building back from the shadows. …the architects have demonstrated their resourcefulness by improving the internal configuration to include bookable meeting/programming space, a better located children’s zone and a better flow to access holds. … However the design does not incorporate a full number of seats. Remember that the Rosemount currently fails well below comparable branches with respect to seating and workspaces. … The reopening of the revitalized Rosemount could be a great opportunity to explore new options such as expanding weekend hours or piloting the use of some self-serve elements while the branch is closed.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LETTER
READ Rosemount September 28, 2018
The Ottawa Public Library’s (OPL) revitalization of the 100 year old Rosemount branch is beginning. The work is urgently needed to ensure Rosemount is best able to serve our vibrant, growing neighbourhood as an innovative, interactive and integrated community hub. Here’s why revitalization is so important!
- Priority: Rosemount has been an OPL Board capital priority for more than five years.
- Service Area: Rosemount serves @ 40,000 residents. It has neither the space nor the capacity to provide service like its six comparator branches – Elmvale Acres, Alta Vista, Carlingwood, Emerald Plaza, North Gloucester & St-Laurent. Click here or (www.readrosemount.ca/resources/ ) for comparative info.
- Age: Current Rosemount building is 100 years old in 2018. It was last expanded in 1936 and last significantly upgraded in 1984.
- Circulation of books & other materials: Rosemount has the HIGHEST circulation of items per square foot of all the 33 OPL branches. This means that while it is busy, it is also VERY crowded.
- Size: Rosemount has 6,089 sq.ft. It needs about 10,000 sq. ft. to effectively serve the 40,000 residents in its catchment area.
- Meeting rooms: Rosemount has no public bookable meeting rooms. All urban and suburban OPL branches have these kinds of meetings rooms.
- Study space: Rosemount has no group study rooms and is deficient in individual study spaces.
- Kids and Teens: Rosemount needs a better kids’ area and a teen zone area.
- Community space: Rosemount needs more leisure and community space; and Rosemount needs to expand with programs in other community spaces.
- Seating: Rosemount needs more seating. Our branch has significantly fewer seats (31) and computer workstations (7) than its six comparator branches (see above).
- Light: Rosemount needs lots of light and comfortable spaces for its users.
- Technology: Rosemount needs to keep up with other branches in providing new technology and automated systems for both users and staff.
- Access: Rosemount needs more open hours especially Sundays and Friday mornings.
Have Your Say:
1. SURVEY: Fill out the 7 minute OPL bilingual survey. Click Here
2. OPEN HOUSE: Attend the OPL Open House at the Rosemount Branch on Wednesday, October 3 from 6-8 pm. Meet the architects and other community members. Make suggestions, ask questions. Help plan for the future.
3. NEED MORE INFORMATION? Check the READ website or (www.readrosemount.ca) to find out about developments at other Ottawa branches and other libraries across Canada.