New library targeted

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 13, 2009 4:00 PM

Little is being said, but there could be some movement towards getting Vernon a new library. An Okanagan Regional Library stakeholders committee recently met to discuss the need for a larger branch and possible locations. “We were there for about three hours and it was all in-camera,” said Shawn Lee, a city councillor and committee chairman, adding that property matters must be kept confidential under provincial legislation. A meeting is also being planned with Vernon council. “It’s not urgent but the committee would like to meet with council soon. It could be in April some time,” said Lee. Lee would not comment on whether locations are being sought outside of downtown, but that appears to be the case. “They are looking at other areas around the city, which they should,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. Present bylaws force the branch to be downtown, but Lippert says the city could change that. “We’ve tried to keep the library downtown but what we’ve tried to do hasn’t fit,” he said. “If they can find something that works but isn’t downtown, the city should look at it.” The future of the Vernon branch has been uncertain since plans for a civic complex — including a 30,000-square-foot library — was shot down by a majority of voters in a 2008 referendum.

“There are two branches in ORL that are way behind in size and Vernon is one of them,” said Lee of ORL’s facility requirements based on population. The current building is 13,000-square-feet in size. “The Vernon branch is functioning at 49 per cent of the size it should be. The facility is not adequate for the huge volume of lending that goes on there,” said Lee. “In terms of a new facility, I am certainly on side.”