Mayor pushes for two libraries. Not three

Mayor Christian Provenzano believes the Sault needs two libraries, not three.

And he's been quietly pushing the local library board in that direction since he was elected in October 2014.

"Brick-and-mortar libraries aren't the same as they used to be," the mayor says. "And there might be a more progressive way to deliver the service that creates more value for the residents of Sault Ste. Marie."

"I looked at the branch in the East End of the city and it seemed to me like a very expensive branch to run. And I have a bit of a difficult time, personally, with all the conversation about east, central, west."

"There's three kilometres between the East End branch and the Centennial branch. I was born in Ward 1 and I live in Ward 2 and spend a lot of my time in the East End of the city. But when I want to go to the West End it doesn't take me very long."

"My thinking was that we could probably have two really great library branches in this city."

Provenzano made the remarks during a City Council discussion last week about options for library service in the Sault.

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Board has proposed closing the 50-year-old Churchill branch and establishing a new Northern branch as part of a community hub at the former Alexander Henry High School site.

Mayor Provenzano admitted last week that he might have personally precipitated the library board's bid to close Churchill branch.

"As somebody who was maybe part of the cause for it, I wanted to take responsibility for that and thank you for the work you did because I know it's been challenging," he told members of the library's board and staff.

"My thinking was that we could probably have two really great library branches in this city. My comments to the library board at that time were: 'You're paying a lot in rent to be in the East End. The Centennial branch is great. We're trying to drive traffic downtown. We're trying to improve that corridor between the art gallery and the Centennial branch. Maybe what we could do is have two really good libraries in this city, and not three.'"

Provenzano said he had that conversation with senior library officials "a year ago."

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Board operates autonomously from City Council but it requires council approval on matters related to real estate.

"We have to be able to move beyond the status quo and be progressive and look down the road." the mayor said. "I appreciate your willingness to have the discussion."

Council now needs to make a decision on the level of library service in the Sault, the mayor said.

One report prepared by the library board proposes alternatives for serving East Enders should the Churchill Plaza branch be closed, including pop-up libraries, mini-branches and book vending machines.

Vincent Greco, a retired educator and SooToday wine columnist, has been fighting to keep the Churchill branch open.

Councillors voted unanimously last week to direct city staff to work with the library board to investigate the positive and negative implications of having either two or  three library sites in the city, including potential options for an archive at one of those branches.

The Algoma District School Board, which is also planning on putting a daycare and a 700-student French-immersion elementary school in the former Alexander Henry building, is waiting on the library board's decision

Mayor Provenzano expressed hope that the report could be prepared within a couple of months.

Chief Administrative Officer Al Horsman said the report will be prepared as quickly as possible.