A group of 20 people from the Town of Athabasca and surrounding area came out to the special meeting of town council on March 24 to protest the decision to move the public library/archives from the downtown area.
The meeting was called for town council to discuss and make the final decision to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the new secondary school. Council’s discussion was done in-camera, a motion councillors Tanu Tyszka-Evans and Nichole Adams opposed.
Concerning the library/archives, the MOU states, “In coordination with the library board, (the town, county, Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society and Aspen View Public Schools will) jointly plan and operate the new space to be included as part of the development of a replacement school that may be attached to the multiplex and may include a Municipal Library and Archive component consolidated with the school library.”
The library board agreed to these terms under the condition they could remain an independent body, but left the final decision on library location to the town.
“It’s been a very difficult decision for the library board to make,” said board chair Lori Barr. “The library board was really pushing for a downtown library and always has been … but we came to the decision that the building is really old and with this opportunity, if we pass it up, we’re not going to get another opportunity for a new library for at least 10 years, or maybe more.”
Former town councillor and current vice-president of the Athabasca Ratepayers’ Association Paula Evans was one of the 20 protesters that came out to the meeting. According to her, moving the library from the downtown creates issues with visibility, parking and noise.
“It’s not just location … there are a lot of issues to be worked out when combining two libraries,” she said.
“They’re gutting the downtown,” said Margaret Anderson while the group waited outside council chambers for the decision to be made.
Anderson, chair of the Athabasca Heritage Society, explained moving the library/archives from the downtown will backfire in the future as people become less dependent on cars and more dependent on walking.
Athabasca resident Shirley Stashko presented the mayor with a letter on the group’s behalf prior to the meeting. The letter requested a public meeting to discuss their concerns.
“If you have stuff downtown people will build businesses … and keep your downtown alive,” Stashko said.
According to Brian LeMessurier, Aspen View superintendent, public consultations about the new school will come in four to six weeks. LeMessurier said the steering committee is aware of the concerns and hopes it can work with the library board to address the issues.
“Now that we’ve passed the MOU and we have a common understanding, we can start having those kinds of discussions,” said LeMessurier. “We just now need to put our heads together as partners and build this library so that it meets the needs of all users.”
According to LeMessurier, possible solutions could come in the form of satellite locations in the downtown where books could be dropped off or the implementation of public transportation as the town continues to grow.
The motion to accept the MOU was passed unanimously by town council.
Town councillor and member of the library board Shelly Gurba said the town is simply following the library board’s lead.
“Realistically, the board is pretty much in line with what’s going on, and they understand the economics of a library,” Gurba said.
There are many positives for moving the library up with the multiplex and new school and making it a first-class, multi-use facility, Gurba explained. Also, the opportunity for collaboration with the many partners is an excellent chance for the town.
“If the school hadn’t been announced … I’d still be fighting for the fact that (the library/archives) should be downtown, but realistically … if the town can save money by doing joint ventures, I think we’re all for that,” Gurba said.
