OTTAWA – On Monday September 13, Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will launch a public engagement process that will inform and lead to the establishment of a new Library branch to serve the growing community of Orléans, Cumberland and surrounding areas. OPL will be gathering public input in a multi-phased approach in order to determine the services needed at a new location south of Innes Road, and to inform decisions on bringing the Library’s learning, literacy, and creative resources closer to these communities
The first step will be an online survey via the user-friendly and accessible City of Ottawa’s Engage Ottawa platform, in English and French, starting on September 13, 2021. OPL will also be gathering movement data to support decision-making regarding the location of a new branch. For this analysis of traffic patterns, residents will be asked to highlight places in the community that are part of their daily, weekly, and monthly routine. The survey will be open for three weeks, until at least October 4.
Further steps will include virtual focus groups with community stakeholders and a virtual open house to report back to the community in early 2022. OPL will reach out to customers again for input when design begins.
Public input will be sought in as many ways as possible, in an open and transparent process, and will be adapted to respond to the changing pandemic realities.