New Central Library
New Central Library Update - July 11, 2023
This afternoon City staff presented City Council with an update on the Library and Art Gallery (Junction East) project. This project is intended to support the Greater Sudbury Public Library Board’s ongoing work to establish a New Central Library that meets the needs of our community.
Over the past several months, Greater Sudbury Public Library staff have been working with the City’s Large Projects team to investigate alternate sites for the New Central Library in response to the direction of City Council in February 2023. This has resulted in assessing the feasibility of existing community-owned infrastructure as the potential new home of the New Central Library. The primary site that has arisen for consideration through that process is 200 Brady St., Tom Davies Square.
City staff have led the analysis of the site and Library staff have been invited to contribute to the evaluation process. In the coming months, Library staff will continue to work with the City team to explore the feasibility of the proposed site for the New Central Library.
About Junction-East
We're building a New Central Library in downtown Greater Sudbury.
Together, the Art Gallery of Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Public Library, the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association and the Sudbury Theatre Centre, will form the Junction East Cultural Campus. It will be a cultural cornerstone for our community, reflecting and celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of our community, both in its physical structure and in the programs and amenities provided by the four partner organizations. The community's commitment to multiculturalism, equality, Indigeneity, and its Francophone roots, will be realized through this project.
The approximately 104,000 square foot Junction East facility will be built in Greater Sudbury's historic downtown and will be home of the Central Library, a public art museum and a multicultural association. It will be an accessible, inviting, contemporary, people-oriented space for connecting citizens to a world of information and technology, as well as each other. Junction East will contribute to the local economy and tourism, drive municipal environmental performance, and provide a welcoming gathering place of citizens and visitors alike.
To learn more, check out the project's FAQ.
A great investment for Greater Sudbury
Greater Sudbury Public Library provides economic, social and health benefits to the community. This series shows how the New Central Library will magnify that impact and bring even more economic benefits to Greater Sudbury.
Why do we need a New Central Library?
Did you know the Main Library has a makerspace, a local history area, and a homebound service?
Watch the videos below to see all the great things we do and find out how a New Central Library will allow us to serve you even better.
Your stories
We want to hear your story!
What makes the Greater Sudbury Public Library so important to our community?
How will the New Central Library at Junction East make our community even better?
Hear the stories of two library members: what they love about what we do, and how they see the New Central Library making Greater Sudbury even better.
Do you have a story to tell? Record a short video telling us what you love about the library. Share your vision for the New Central Library. We will post the videos on our website and share on our social media channels.
- What makes the library important to you?
- What gets you excited about the New Central Library?
New Central Library facts
1. Do people even use libraries anymore? |
The answer is an emphatic yes! GSPL had over a million transactions in 2019, and an average of about ¾ of a million in-person visits per year. People use libraries to:
. . . and a lot of people borrow books too! |
2. What does the library do for our community? |
Libraries benefit everyone in the community, whether they are a patron or not.
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3. Why can't you just renovate your existing building? |
Our current building was built for a different time and a different kind of library service; there are a lot of problems that can't be fixed with a simple renovation.
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4. What is the benefit of collaborating with AGS, SMFAA and STC on the same site? |
Collaborating with these organizations is going to benefit our patrons, their members, and the entire community! By working together, we will:
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5. How will the New Central Library benefit the community on opening day in 2025? |
GSPL does amazing things at our current Main library, but the New Central Library will allow us to do so much more for the community. On opening day at the New Central Library, we will:
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6. How will the New Central Library benefit the city for next 50 years? |
The New Central Library is an investment in Greater Sudbury's future, bringing community benefits for decades to come. At Junction East, we will be able to:
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7. How will the New Central Library benefit the community economically? |
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8. Why don't you just build more branch libraries? |
The central library performs a special function as the heart of the entire library system. Many services that benefit the whole city are supported at the central library, such as:
A new central library will enhance these functions, providing benefits to the whole city.
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9. Will opening a new central library downtown lead to closing smaller branches in other areas? |
There are no plans to close any branches as a result of opening the New Central Library. With the completion of the Junction East project, the existing Main Library branch on Mackenzie Street will be permanently closed. |
10. Why do we need to build a new central library now? |
There have been studies calling for a New Central Library since 1990 - that's over three decades. Investing in Junction East now is the right decision because:
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Community groups across Greater Sudbury support the New Central Library/Junction East project
We've received letters of support for the New Central Library/Junction East project from community groups across Greater Sudbury. For more information on the Junction East project, including the New Central Library, check out the City's webpage
Do you have some kind words to share? Tell us how the New Central Library will benefit you or your organization and we will add your post to our social media campaign. Email Colleen Burns to tell us what you think the New Central Library will bring to Greater Sudbury.Sign up for updates by joining our mailing list.