The Hamilton Public Library plans to spend $150,000 from its reserve funds to study the feasibility of creating a new library branch on Hamilton’s West Mountain.
The HPL is responding to a request from Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora to add a branch within the boundaries of Ward 14, the only ward in Hamilton that does not have a library branch.
Hamilton’s Chief Librarian Paul Takala, in a written report, states that residential growth between Rymal Road and Stone Church Road, combined with growth in the Ancaster Meadowlands, creates the conditions for a new branch.
“A branch located near the Southwest corner of Ward 14 is currently justified in terms of residential population.”
The area is presently served by the Terryberry and Turner Park library branches.
The library hopes to charge back all or part of the $150,000 to the City’s development charge accounts.
Ward 14 was created in 2018 following an Ontario Municipal Board decision that ordered the City of Hamilton to ensure ward boundary populations were more balanced. Previously, all of Ward 14 (except the portion inside the former Town of Ancaster) was part of Ward 8.
Terryberry Library is located within the boundaries of the previous and current Ward 8.
Additional: On October 23, the Library Board voted to add a $14-million placeholder for the 2028 Library capital budget to construct a new West Mountain branch.
Production Details v. 1.1.0 Published: October 20, 2024 Last updated: October 23, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version v. 1.0.1 modified headline "$150,000" to "$150K" v. 1.1.0 added info that the Library Board created a placeholder to build a new library branch. (October 23, 2024)