What we heard tonight about the North Branch library re-opening

Okay, let's try this one more time.

The on-again, off-again re-opening of Sault Ste. Marie's North Branch Library is now being planned for sometime next month.

Resumption of service at the Northern Avenue location was originally set for Oct. 5 but delayed because library officials didn't want to be seen expanding services when the rest of the province was retreating as a second wave of COVID-19 struck other parts of Ontario.

"We do really want to expand our operations. We had a plan, but that plan was delayed," Matthew MacDonald, chief executive officer and director of libraries, told a meeting of the local library board Monday night.

"We do intend to expand services in November. We're going to be keeping an eye on what's happening in Ontario and Algoma," MacDonald said.

"An official media release with details about the opening date and hours of operation will be released in the days leading up to the re-opening," he added in a memorandum to library board members.

Other short reads from the Monday-night meeting:

• the library board will be looking for a 1.5 per cent increase in next year's operating budget. But in backroom haggling, the city's finance staff has served notice it can't go higher than one per cent. At a two-hour meeting last Thursday, the library's finance committee agreed to express grateful appreciation for the one per cent increase, but continue to angle for 1.5 per cent when they appear before City Council during budget deliberations
• library board members are working up a plan to recognize much-appreciated volunteers and donors, even though this year's annual volunteer recognition event can't be held because of the much-execrated pandemic
• a $23,355 contract for replacing a sump pump and fixing a leak in a foundation floor at the downtown library was awarded to Park Construction, lowest among five bidders 
• a decision was made to close local libraries on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. They were already scheduled to close at noon on Dec. 24 and 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. With hours reduced by COVID-19, opening on those days was deemed hardly worthwhile