First Bid made for Ottawa Library Public-Private Partnership


East end Ottawa homeowner Donald Q. Bickle has responded to the need for a new Main Library branch and to the Library Board’s call for a public-private partnership with an offer to locate it in his home.

“They can put the books in my basement,” said Bickle. “Ever since the wife took the pool table out, I don’t go down there much and there’s lots of room.”

The 40-year-old Ottawa central library building at the corner of Laurier Avenue and Metcalfe Street is in need of upgrades, and estimates run as high as $70 million. At a meeting on Monday night, the Library's board of directors voted in favour of looking for a partner to build a new central library branch, and the Board Chair Jan Harder said interested parties are already inquiring. 

"They’d have to truck the books here themselves, but after that, it’d be free just as long as they forget my fines and let me get first crack at any new books  about fishin’,” said Bickle.

Asked if he was aware that as many as 16,000 visitors per week currently pass through the central library’s doors, Bickle noted trends in electronic communications and information services that put such numbers in perspective and offered observations that suggest a particular understanding of the Library's challenges.

"Well, that sounds like a lot, but my cat’s blog gets something like 50 thousand hits a week, so I’m pretty sure we can handle it,” said the would-be private library owner and, at present, the only identified "interested party."

Reporters asked Bickle if he understood that the library offered more than books and had other services that are important to the public.
“Well, yeah, I guess you’re right,” said Bickle. “I spose we’d have to make sure all them books didn’t block the route to the privy.”

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