Talks continue over new library branch

Published: April 16, 2009 6:00 PM By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

Discussions about a proposed new Vernon library continue to be held behind closed doors. Okanagan Regional Library officials met with city council in-camera Tuesday to talk about the process that could eventually lead to a new branch. “They were informing us of their findings,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert of ORL’s search for a new site. While he wasn’t willing to get into details about the meeting, Lippert did admit that council has been asked to consider changing bylaws so a branch can be built outside of the downtown core. “That discussion is in-camera and council has not made a decision one way or another,” he said. 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. ORL policies have determined that the current branch, at 13,000-square-feet, is too small for the population it serves.

On Tuesday, council approved extending the lease of the city-owned branch for three years until Dec. 31, 2011. “That gives them much more flexibility,” said Coun. Shawn Lee of ORL’s search for a new location. And if a new site is found, early termination of the lease has been changed from 12 to six months. “Our local stakeholders have been pursuing an upgrade for nine years and we’re still talking,” said Lee, who sits on the ORL board.