Letter of Intent between the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC)

January 19, 2016

The Ottawa Public Library has published the Letter of Intent signed with Library and Archives Canada with respect to the Central Library and the development of a landmark facility in the Nation’s Capital.

Letter of Intent

Whereas the Ottawa Public Library Board and the City of Ottawa Council have approved development of a new Central Library as a 2015-2018 strategic priority; and,

Whereas the Central Library Development Project planning phase is underway; and,

Whereas development of a new build Central Library is an exciting City-building initiative; and,

Whereas Library and Archives Canada expressed interest through the Ottawa Public Library/City of Ottawa Request for Expressions of Interest: Central Library Development Opportunity (REIO No. 01414-95600-EOI-1) process in exploring a potential and innovative partnership opportunity with respect to the Central Library Development Project and the development of a landmark facility in the Nation’s Capital; and,

Whereas Library and Archives Canada could relocate some of its functions from its current location at 395 Wellington Street by 2020; and,

Whereas the functions to be relocated from Library and Archives Canada are public facing and complementary in nature to some Ottawa Public Library services and programs; and,

Whereas the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada representatives would like to investigate potential synergies and co-location opportunities that may be provided through the Central Library Development Project;

Therefore, a Joint Project Steering Committee including representatives from the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada, as well as other municipal and federal government entities respectively, as required, will be established to investigate terms of a potential partnership opportunity. See the composition of the Committee in Annex 1.

To facilitate and advance the work of the Joint Project Steering Committee, the undersigned parties agree to:

1. Support a joint governance structure required for a successful project;

2. Support and facilitate necessary project planning and communications strategy, including approvals, in a timely manner; and,

3. Any shared costs to be incurred will be agreed to by the consensus of both parties. Costs may include planning studies and project deliverables.

The Joint Project Steering Committee will bring forward a report in 2016 including recommendations for next steps.

Original signed – January 15, 2016

Danielle McDonald
Chief Executive Officer / Directrice générale
Ottawa Public Library / Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa

Guy Berthiaume
Librarian and Archivist of Canada / Bibliothécaire et archiviste du Canada
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada

ANNEX 1

Joint Project Steering Committee:

Ottawa Public Library – Danielle McDonald, Elaine Condos, Anna Basile, Representative from the City of Ottawa

Library and Archives Canada Guy Berthiaume, Hervé Déry, Serge Corbeil, Johanna Smith

Source: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/letter-intent