A report by administration to Saskatoon’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon suggested that one consideration when it comes to whether there will be a new library or not, would be to eliminate the public space component. City manager, Jeff Jorgenson says the report presented to the committee basically includes the suggestion that there isn’t a need for a proposed new library to build general purpose public space for public meeting request, because there already is plenty of bookable public space downtown.

The executive director of the NSBA, Keith Moen, spoke at the meeting about the Association’s concerns that there won’t be any room for other projects, once the borrowing in the next budget is completed, which would include the library project. He cited the price tag for a downtown entertainment district at around $300-million.

CEO of the Saskatoon Public Library, Carol Cooley, spoke at the meeting as well. She clarified the general use space would be rental space. Cooley agreed with administration’s recommendation and said room rentals are peripheral to the business of public libraries.

Discussion about a possible new central library will continue during budget deliberations beginning November 25th.