Oakville Public Library Board Meeting Review

The Oakville Public Library Board reviewed 2026 performance and finances, capital-project progress, and the development of its service strategy. The Central Library project has moved into design development, with detailed design expected by year-end. The board also discussed a proposed Southwest Oakville service study, branch-efficiency measures, rising utility and software costs, and the use of fundraising dollars to support a two-year service-strategy position.

Topics Discussed

CENTRAL LIBRARY PROJECT

The Central Library project has moved from schematic design into design development. Detailed design is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The site plan was submitted in July, and the project was reported as on schedule and on budget.

Plans include study rooms, group-study areas, quiet spaces and a meeting room in the basement. The basement will not have a permanently staffed service desk; staff will conduct regular walkthroughs, supported by security cameras and emergency-reporting systems.

The upper levels are expected to include children's, teen and adult areas, a permanent used-book store, patios and a 150-seat event space.

A full-service café has been removed from the design. Ray Chisholm said, "it's not a business that we're in. Um we're in the library business now. We're not in the cafe business or the uh the retail cafe business." Vending or a grab-and-go kiosk remain under consideration.

SOUTHWEST OAKVILLE AND BRONTE SERVICES

The Woodside Library renovation has been deferred while OPL reviews library service needs in Southwest Oakville and Bronte. A proposed $30,000 study would examine service gaps, facility requirements and alternative delivery options.

Staff described the study as an effort to determine "what are the service gaps in Southwest" and identify what residents need within walking distance. Potential locations or service hubs discussed included Bronte Village, the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, vacant space in a school and areas near the Bronte GO transit node.

Staff said a library in Kiwi Park "does not seem to resonate well with the community" and noted limited space in Bronte Village.

OPL also said it would not recommend repeating the Clearview model, where a library occupies approximately 3,000 square feet within an elementary school and is open 24 hours a week. Future school partnerships would require self-contained space and a dedicated exterior public entrance.

SERVICE STRATEGY AND FUNDING

The board discussed a service strategy intended to shift OPL's performance measures from counting activities to assessing community outcomes. The three main areas identified were a culture of reading, digital inclusion and intellectual curiosity.

The strategy is intended to clarify the library's role, improve coordination across collections, technology and programming, and define the level of assistance staff provide, including technology support and referrals to other services.

"The overall goal isn't for us to do more things," a speaker said. "It's to better understand where OPL can create the greatest value and the deepest impact for residents and then focus our areas."

The estimated cost of the strategic-planning and implementation work has risen from approximately $75,000 to $100,000 to more than $500,000. The board approved using fundraising or foundation funds as "seed capital" for a two-year Service Strategy Implementation Lead position if the Town does not fund the role through the operating budget.

BRANCH PERFORMANCE AND DIGITAL ACCESS

Trustees discussed measuring each branch's costs against its services and requested "branch services per dollar spent" or dollars per service for future reports.

Wi-Fi accounted for 522,295 of 599,164 recorded services, or about 87 per cent. Staff agreed to present branch metrics both with and without Wi-Fi activity so the cost of internet access is recognized without obscuring other programs and services.

The 16 Mile branch accounted for 97 per cent of the net increase in new cardholders in the year-to-date Q2 comparison. A six-month operational review of the branch is scheduled for presentation in October.

FINANCES, BUDGETS AND OTHER PROJECTS

As of June 30, 2026, OPL was projecting a year-end surplus of just over $30,000. Staff said funds associated with vacancies and staffing changes were being redirected to book and digital collections. Hydro costs were higher than expected, and the Town was investigating increases affecting other municipal facilities.

The 2027 capital forecast includes $200,000 for workforce-planning and scheduling software, up from just over $100,000. Staff attributed the increase to market prices and required cybersecurity and privacy assessments.

The board also noted a $200,000 transfer from the Oakville Community Foundation for digitization projects. Digitized pre-1981 Oakville Beaver editions are expected to become publicly available in early October, with the remaining newspaper archives scheduled for release by early 2027.

Motions

• Item 5.1 — OPL Board Key Agenda Items: Approved.
• Item 5.2 — Health and Safety Report: Approved.
• Item 5.3 — Q2 2026 OPL Goals: Approved.
• Item 5.4 — Performance and Measures Q2 2026: Received for reporting purposes; staff agreed to add branch-cost and Wi-Fi comparison measures.
• Item 5.5 — Halton Information Providers Report: Approved.
• Item 7.1 — Comprehensive Financial Report: Received.
• Item 7.2 — 2027 OPL Capital Budget: Discussed as an early forecast.
• Item 7.3 — Proposed Business Analyst/Service Strategy Implementation Lead: The motion to use fundraising or foundation funds as seed capital for the two-year position was carried.
• Item 7.4 — OPL Service Strategy: Presentation and discussion only.
• Woodside Library renovation: Deferred while the Southwest Oakville and Bronte service review is undertaken.

No rejected motions were identified in the provided meeting material.

Attendees

The provided material does not include a complete list of trustees or councillors present. Speakers or members identified in the material include:

• Jeff Knoll, board chair
• Meredith
• Rebecca
• Ray Chisholm
• Andrew
• Tara Wong, library staff member
• Councillor Chisholm