Southwest Library Branch
Brantford is getting a new public library branch!
A new Library Branch will be built as part of a joint build that includes an elementary school, daycare and city-operated recreation centre.
The school is set to open in late 2025, with the Library portion opening soon after. The building will be located off of Shellard Lane in the southwest area of the city.
The 13,500-foot Library will have dedicated public parking, collections for people of all ages, quiet study spaces and an outdoor reading area.
Details on the facility and adjacent sports fields and can be found on the City of Brantford website and the Grand Erie District School Board website.
Project Updates
- Brantford Public Library CEO and Chief Librarian Rae-Lynne Aramburo outlined reasons for a new library branch in the southwest area of the city in a November 2, 2021 presentation to Brantford municipal councillors.
- A Brantford Municipal Council committee supported a detailed design of the project at a September 2022 committee meeting (Expositor article).
- ZAS ARCHITECTS + INTERIORS is working on the design. Previous work by ZAS includes the Vaughan Civic Centre and Public Resource Library.
The need for a new library branch in Brantford
A recent Library Planning Study revealed that, amongst 20 comparators, Brantford ranked last in terms of the number of library branches per population.
This study revealed that Brantford already has a current library space deficit of more than 23,000 square feet, based on library best practices. This shortage will become more drastic as Brantford's population continues to grow. In just 20-years, by 2041, Brantford's population is expected to be 144,000.
In addition to a space deficit, there is also a shortage of physical library materials available in the Brantford Public Library's collection. Currently, the Library offers 1.54 physical items per resident (in addition to a robust digital collection). This is well short of a recommended 2.3 items per person.
By building a 13,500 square foot library branch in a joint school and community centre, residents of Brantford will benefit from improved access to library services and gain a deeper connection to the community.