The need for a new central library for Saskatoon is not a new idea. Saskatoon Public Library’s CEO estimates it was identified about 30 years ago that a new downtown building was needed because the existing Frances Morrison Library is inaccessible, too small, not functional and has many building and fire code deficiencies so it’s not safe. There is also growing demand for use of the downtown library.

Although the gate counters at the central library weren’t working for about half of 2019, there were about 500-thousand people counted.
Cooley expects it’s usually over a million people through the gates each year. She stresses the cost to the average homeowner will be a little less than $5 a year from 2021 to 2024 and then in 2025 and 26, the increase is a little under $1.60 a year. The economic impact for building the library is estimated it will contribute about $132-million to Canada’s GDP and create over a thousand full-time equivalent jobs, and then once it’s open, it will produce over $15-million annually in GDP.

There are 9 branches in the city, including the Frances Morrison, but Cooley explains there is a great deal at the downtown main branch that can’t be accessed elsewhere like a local history area, and all centralized services like accessibility services for people who have special needs in accessing information. Outreach workers are housed downtown, and special programming spaces are included in the central library like the existing theatre and gallery. The goal is to have the new library open its doors in 2026 in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue North. The closing date for a request for proposals for the design of the building is October 4th.