Downtown library to open Remembrance Day

Sault Ste. Marie Public Library's Centennial Branch will open its doors on Remembrance Day, Sunday Nov. 11, 2017.

The first-time-ever decision to open on Remembrance Day was made tonight by the library's board.

Roxanne Toth-Rissanen, chief executive officer and director of public libraries, also recommended that Remembrance Day openings be continued in the future.

"Presently there is a Remembrance Day event in the downtown core the morning of each Remembrance Day, however there are no additional programs or events in the downtown area for members of our community to remain downtown," Toth-Rissanen said in a written report.

"The opportunity that the library would have is to partner with different organizations to offer meaningful programs and events to honour the day."

The downtown library branch would provide a gathering place in keeping with the focus on vibrant downtown areas recently approved as part of the Sault's community action plan, Toth-Rissanen said.

The library has been experimenting over the past year with holiday openings.

The library board also agreed tonight that the downtown branch will open on Family Day (Feb. 19, 2018), Easter Monday (Apr. 2, 2018), Victoria Day (May 21, 2018) and Canada Day (July 1, 2018).

"It should be noted that in 2016 the library was the first city operation aside from the John Rhodes Centre to be open on Family Day and other civic holidays," Toth-Rissanen said.

"Other organizations have followed suit, such as the Bushplane Museum," she added.