Ottawa Public Library Board to discuss Central Library site selection and public engagement at April 12 meeting

_ (press release) _ The agenda, and associated documents, for the upcoming Ottawa Public Library Board meeting, scheduled for April 12, 2016, are now available at https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/opl-board-agenda-and-minutes At this meeting, which is open to the public and media, the Board will receive information on the next steps in the Central Library Development Project planning process. Ottawa Public Library CEO Danielle McDonald will also present an overview of the next phase of public engagement for the highly anticipated city-building initiative.

The Board will be asked to approve the initiation of the site selection process, which includes developing an inventory of potential sites in the Central Area , as well as opportunities for the public to provide input into the evaluation criteria for potential sites. The criteria will be brought to the Board for approval in July, following which the potential sites will be evaluated and analyzed. A recommended site for the Ottawa Central Library will be made public before the end of the calendar year. No sites have been determined at this time.

While the Central Library Development Project is the first item on the agenda, it will be followed by three other decision items as well as four information items.

OPL Board Chair, Tim Tierney, and Danielle McDonald, will be available for interviews immediately following the Board meeting. No interviews will be granted before the Board has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations.

Public delegations can register to speak. Details available at: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/opl_board _ The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is the largest bilingual (English/French) public library system in North America. The OPL extends public access to information and services through the library’s 34 branches, physical and virtual at _ _ www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca _ _ , as well as two mobile libraries and a vending machine-style lending library service. Serving close to one million Ottawa residents, OPL’s mission is to inspire learning, spark curiosity, and connect people. Follow us on Twitter _ _ www.Twitter.com/OPL_BPO _ _ and like us on Facebook _ _ www.Facebook.com/OPLBPO _ _ . Contact us at 613-580-2940 or _ _ InfoService@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca _ _ . If it’s out there, it’s in here! _