A public outcry over a Wellington County decision to close the library here has forced officials to turn the page and overturn that decision.
On Sept. 12 about 200 people crammed a meeting room at the museum and archives building, just meters away from the library, to voice their opposition to a June recommendation by the information, heritage and seniors committee – which was later approved by county council – to close the Aboyne branch.
After several impassioned pleas to keep Aboyne open and not link the closure to a $5 million renovation of the Fergus Carnegie library, the committee approved reversing its June decision to close the facility. The decision now needs the approval of county council at its next meeting on Sept. 27.
Originally the committee had called for the closure of Aboyne and the transfer of staff and administrative functions to the Fergus and Elora branches. The decision, announced at county council’s June meeting by chief librarian Murray McCabe, sparked a strong letter writing campaign to the Advertiser by Aboyne supporters and prompted the committee to revisit the issue and host the public meeting.
“The duplication of collections between the three libraries in Centre Wellington would be greatly reduced,” McCabe wrote in his report to county council. “The physical space provided at Aboyne would be replaced by the new addition at Fergus. As most people drive to Aboyne from the surrounding communities, their trips for library services would be shortened. Operating costs in the area of utilities, computer services and general upkeep would be reduced or eliminated.”
The original decision would have seen Aboyne remain open until the Fergus renovations were complete in a couple of years.
Belwood resident Silvana Sangiuliano presented a 1,300-signature petition from area residents, “concerned about the ramifications of the Fergus library expansion and the resulting closure of the Aboyne library.”
“These people represent a cross-section of our neighbouring communities who wish to see the Aboyne library kept in full operation on a permanent basis,” she said of those who signed the petition. “Specifically, there are 446 from Fergus, 485 from Elora, 182 from Belwood and the balance from other towns within our county.”
Sangiuliano also questioned whether significant studies – including traffic, parking and the impact the expansion will have on other heritage facilities like the Fergus Grand Theatre – were ever conducted.
“The library board’s role and responsibility should focus on providing optimal library resources to our community, not to revitalize downtown,” she added.
Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said she would support the continued operation of Aboyne and believed all three libraries could operate based on a “business case.”
Several supporters also talked about the future need for the Aboyne library based on planned and existing development in the area, including a 1,200-home subdivision proposed by Sorbara Development Corp., the new Centre Wellington hospital, the newly-built OPP station, the new administration and archives building and the nearby nursing home.
Resident Carol Williams noted the county archives serves as an additional resource for library users seeking additional information.
“To locate the library anywhere else would be a waste of money,” she said.
Sangiuliano said, “The county spent money upgrading this lovely museum and archives building.”
“This included adding the Aboyne Hall, which we are currently in. This hall, together with the Nicholas Keith room, is available to community groups and private individuals to rent. It comes with all the conveniences of parking and ease of accessibility. Why do you feel the need to duplicate these facilities downtown?”
Aboyne library supporters said the two libraries should not have been linked in the plan to upgrade the Fergus facility and close the Aboyne location.
Circulation statistics provided by the county showed some 13,053 users were registered with the Aboyne library in August, while 14,062 were registered with the Fergus facility.
Thomas Homer-Dixon spoke out in favour of the Fergus library plan, citing the need for a renovated downtown facility to serve some 5,000 residents who live within walking distance.
“Fergus needs an excellent library,” he said. “I’m here to support the expansion. To be prosperous, Fergus must participate in a knowledge economy. We need this knowledge center.
“I can understand why people are concerned about Aboyne and I’d like to see it remain open, but I didn’t want it to impact on the Fergus library expansion.”
The Fergus plan also has the support of the downtown BIA.
Warden Chris White said the decision to keep Aboyne open could impact on the capital cost estimate of the Fergus plan. He said the county has plans to renovate the Aboyne library at $500,000. However, White added, the upgrade could come in higher.
“If Aboyne costs $1 million to fix, then we’ve got $4.5 million for Fergus. We’ll have to discuss where we land in terms of the capital budget.”
Committee member Brad Whitcombe said he never favoured closing Aboyne.
A motion to defer any decision on the fate of the Aboyne library, put forward by committee member Walter Trachsel, was defeated.
Trachsel said the issue could be deferred because the original motion meant Aboyne would remain open until work on the Fergus library was completed.
The deferral motion garnered support from members Jennifer Dixon and Sheila Gamble over concerns about operating costs associated with keeping libraries in Aboyne, Fergus and Elora open, but failed to win a majority.
“I think the public has spoken out strongly,” White said, of the committee decision to withdraw its original closure motion and send it to county council for a final decision.
