Okanagan Regional Library plans main branch make-over in Kelowna

KELOWNA – The Okanagan Regional Library is planning a main branch makeover.

CEO Stephanie Hall will appear before Kelowna council Monday to lay out the details of a $3.5-million renovation of the library’s flagship facility.

Far from stagnating, Hall says the library has morphed into more of a community hub and the changes will help strengthen that transformation.

The library opened 20 years ago, Hall notes in her presentation to council, and occupies an enviable location in the city’s civic block beside the soon-to-be-complete Okanagan Centre for Innovation.

Plans are to connect to the innovation centre and form a stronger partnership with UBC Okanagan which recently opened the UBC Innovation Library inside the larger facility.

Beyond that, plans are to add new creative and study spaces, open up the library’s existing atrium and create a great room, something Hall describes as a “flexible community space” on the second floor.

According to Hall, the Kelowna branch has just over 30,000 cardholders who have made 212,000 branch visits to the Ellis Street location.

Hall will detail the multi-faceted fund-raising plan with the target of $3.5 million to make the required renovations, plus an unspecified amount for furnishings, equipment and soft costs.

The library is hoping to secure support from the city to help install new carpet and build the connecting entrance to the Okanagan Innovation Centre. No hard costs are listed for these elements.

Hall will make her presentation to council during the public meeting, 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 24 at Kelowna City Hall.

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