The federal government announced Friday that a press conference is planned to announce a “new Rotary Regional Community Learning Centre.”
The announcement is set for 11 a.m. at 57 Central St.
Fueling the speculation that Monday’s community learning centre event will include the library was a presentation made to Summerside City Council in March 2014, when former Summerside-St. Eleanors MLA and Rotarian Gerard Greenan made a presentation to council about a plan to have the city purchase the former Canada Post Office building on Central Street to be converted into a library.
"Nothing to report. It will be some time. It was just a matter of sharing information. They didn't tell us anything," he told the Journal Pioneer following that 2014 meeting.
Currently located in the former CN rail station on Water Street, the library is in need of upgrades and expansion.
The second floor of the structure has been closed off to public use and extensive renovations would be required to the building.
The Rotary Club and the Friends of the Rotary Library looked into the possibility of renovating the current location to meet the library’s needs, including adding new space to the designated heritage building, but was faced with many obstacles.
The group was informed that new additions must meet the National Building Code, and because it would be a new addition connecting to an older one, the older structure would have to be brought up to the national code standards, also.
The province provides the library service, staff and materials, but it is the responsibility of the municipality to find a location. The current library is a city-owned building.
The Friends of the Rotary Regional Library had, for several years, tried to impress upon the city the need to expand the library.
It had been long rumoured that the former Canada Post Office site at 57 Central St. was a front-runner as a new location. Parties from all sides have been silent on the progress since that March 2014 meeting.
As for what could be joining the library at a new location, that will be made public at Monday’s announcement.
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Colin MacLean/Journal Pioneer
The former Canada Post office at 57 Central Street in Summerside will be the site of a Monday morning press conference where the creation of a new Rotary Regional Community Learning Centre will be announced.
