A new chapter is beginning for the Barrie Public Library, with plans to develop a new branch in the city of Barrie.
At the January 29 City Council meeting, Barrie City Council approved funding for the library to plan a new branch in the city’s northwest. The funding will cover design, layout, community consultations, and demographic analysis to address the needs of the 26,000 residents in the area, including 5,000 youth.
The library will be collaborating with the City of Barrie's Corporate Facilities Department to secure a physical location for the new branch and oversee the necessary engineering and architectural planning.
"The Barrie Public Library board is thrilled to start this expansion into the northwest area of the city," says Austin Mitchell, Chair of the Barrie Public Library Board. "We are grateful for the City's support as we work towards a shared vision of enhanced library services for our community."
The new branch would provide literacy support, programming for all ages, computers, Wi-Fi, and community space for work and study. Officials are considering a smaller library, similar to the Holly library, which opened in 2022 and has been highly successful.
“We look forward to conducting community consultation with the residents of Ward 5 and surrounding areas to get a sense of broader community needs before we make any firm decisions,” says Lauren Jessop, CEO of the Barrie Public Library. “We’re committed to ensuring library services are accessible to all residents. This planning process is an exciting first step toward creating a space that brings people together and meets the unique needs of this community.”
Community consultations will begin soon, with updates to be shared on our website and social media.
Image description: Lauren Jessop, CEO of the Barrie Public Library, and Austin Mitchell, Chair of the Barrie Public Library Board in the Downtown Library.