The Alice B. Donahue Library board has decided it would not be opposed to joining forces with Aspen View Public School Division in the construction of a new municipal library inside Athabasca’s new secondary school.
Although the library board has passed a motion, it is up to the Town of Athabasca to make the final decision.
“We are recommending that the town sign the MOU (memorandum of understanding) on our behalf, as far as the library goes, and that they continue to plan for a library at the new location in the school,” said library board chair Lori Barr. “It is just a recommendation. It is in the town’s hands.”
Barr stated the library board attached a condition to its offer.
“We just want to make sure that we don’t lose our status as a municipal library board,” she said. “We want it to remain a public library.”
With a motion on the books from the library board, if the library is relocated to the new school, the Athabasca Archives will follow.
“It could be a public/school library, just as long as we retain autonomy as a library/archives,” Barr explained.
Barr stated the decision would not be final until the Town of Athabasca signs the MOU.
“We wait,” she said. “The town still has to look at their end of things.”
Barr explained the library board made its decision because it sees the value and opportunities in the possibility of a joint library.
Previously, the board had expressed a preference to keep the library and archives downtown, and town council voted unanimously last June to keep any new library facility in the downtown core.
The new school is to be constructed near the Athabasca Regional Multiplex on the west side of town.
Aspen View Public School Division superintendent Brian LeMessurier stated he was delighted by the library board’s decision, but acknowledged a lot of planning is needed to ensure everyone’s needs are met.
As for the funding for the new library, LeMessurier stated the library construction costs would be covered in the new school funding.
“That is a huge benefit for the ratepayers of the town and the county,” he said.
