Upgrades will be made to Waterford library to meet needs of growing community

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The Waterford library branch will be getting a $1.2-million upgrade to help meet the needs of the growing community.  

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Norfolk council has approved an additional $330,000 in funding for the project, expected to begin in late summer or early fall. Tillsonburg-based PK Construction Inc., which submitted the lowest of four bids, will complete the work.  

The project also received a federal government investment of $300,960 from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. 

The project includes the expansion of the 6,600-square-foot Main Street South library, opened in 1990, by 450 square feet. The public washroom will be upgraded to meet accessibility requirements, which entails moving interior walls and decommissioning some spaces. 

A report from Sydney Clarysse, project lead of energy and facilities, presented to council at a meeting on June 11, said the overall goal of the retrofit project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 17.1 tonnes annually through the installation of solar panels, battery storage, and new mechanical and electrical equipment and windows. Part of the library roof will also be replaced. 

Clarysse said the changes will reduce energy consumption by 104,000 kilowatt hours and save the county about $5,000 a year.

Coun. Kim Huffman said that reduction is important because the library is “one of the least efficient buildings in Norfolk County.” 

Julie Kent, Norfolk County Public Library CAO, said the expansion of the building will allow the library to increase its collection and the number of seats available to users from 16 to 40. The number of seats for children will jump from 15 to 25.  

When questioned by Mayor Amy Martin at the meeting about whether the upgrades align with the projected growth of the town, Kent said design standards for public libraries call for about 6,800 square feet of building space to serve a population of about 10,000. While there are about 4,200 people living in Waterford, Kent said the library also supports residents of Vanessa, Teeterville, Windham Centre, Bloomsburg, Villa Nova, Bills Corners and Townsend, bringing the total community closer to 9,000. 

Kent said the current public washroom in the library has a large pillar making it challenging for wheelchairs to move around, and the washrooms are often so cold in the winter that portable heaters need to be brought in to prevent the pipes from freezing. 

Enhancements to the library meeting room will bolster rental, which Kent said is “one of the few revenue options available for public libraries to help offset operations.” 

Library laptops and tablets will be replaced for $29,000 and the library website updated for $40,000, with the money coming from reserves.  

Martin said she’s concerned about the library reserves being reduced from about $800,000 to $144,000. When asked by Martin, Kent said there is no fundraising planned for the library upgrades but there will be talks with the county’s financial staff about topping up reserves prior to budget talks for next year. 

Kent said library staff is working with the county departments to establish a temporary library location at the Waterford Tricenturena while construction is underway. The library will continue to provide access to services and resources, though with limited circulation services. The full collection and resources will still be available to Norfolk residents at all country branches and online.  

“We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey that prioritizes the needs and preferences of our staff and patrons alike,” Kent said in a release this week. “As we navigate through this exciting phase, we remain committed to providing unparalleled access to resources and fostering meaningful connections within Norfolk County and the Waterford community.” 

Patrons are encouraged to visit NCPL branches in Delhi, Port Dover, Port Rowan, and Simcoe during the closure. 

“The Waterford branch retrofitting project exemplifies our dedication to serving the evolving needs of our community,” said NCPL board chair Kimberly Earls. “We are proud to support the initiatives that enhance accessibility and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all residents.”