Ongoing construction delays with the much-anticipated Ādisōke library branch are expected to leave the Ottawa Public Library with an operating surplus this year. A year-end forecast report to be presented to the Ottawa Library Board on Tuesday forecasts that total gross spending expenditures will be underspent by $5.71 million, or 7.7 per cent of its budget. City staff attribute the anticipated surplus to underspending in two categories primarily related to the delay of the future main branch: facility overhead such as utilities and maintenance, and lower compensation costs made up of salary and benefits. According to the financial forecast, it’s expected that a portion of the revenues from the city for the Ādisōke library will be returning to the city, as not all the funds are required this year due to the delayed timelines for completion. With the city’s contribution, total next expenditures is forecasted to be in a surplus of 8.3 per cent of the total library’s budget. The report notes the savings due to the delays are not a viable long-term solution to offset other funding pressures, including a city efficiency target and facility costs. The new library was expected to open this year after construction began in 2021. City councillors were told last December that the contractor reported delays and pressures on the timeline that would push a potential opening date beyond 2026. There is currently no timeline for opening. The architects behind the project shared new photos on the progress of the construction, saying the building’s exterior is “almost complete.” Earlier this year, city staff said the extended construction timelines resulted in additional project costs, with the councillors approving a plan to spend an additional $11.5 million. Library and Archives Canada is contributing $7 million toward additional costs. In September, the Ottawa Public Library exercised its final lease extension for the main branch in downtown Ottawa until the end of 2027 due to the uncertainty over the opening date for Ādisōke. Sunnyside branch closure In another report for the board, the Ottawa Public Library says its Sunnyside branch located at Bank Street and Echo Drive requires “significant lifecycle renewal” to support its continued long-term use. The branch was opened in 1951 and receives more than 200,000 visits annually. Given the scope of the work required to restore the facility, staff recommend closing the branch for a period of six months starting next spring or summer. “The work will require significant contractor access, equipment, vehicles, material staging, and waste containers across the site. Continued branch operation during construction is therefore not recommended,” the report says. The duration of the work will depend on construction progress, site conditions and weather. The report says staff are looking into the possibility of opening a temporary location within the library’s service area.
