City Council has approved the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) 2025 budget of $64.895M which includes funding for operating and capital activities. Compared to 2024, this is an increase of $2.715M, which represents a property tax increase of approximately $2.55 for the average residential household.
The 2025 Library budget enables OPL to provide and expand the services the community relies on for learning, leisure, information, and connection.
OPL Board Chair and Councillor for Orléans East-Cumberland ward Matthew Luloff said: "This is a good budget - one that will ensure OPL has the capacity and the resources it needs to deliver library services in line with our Service Delivery Framework. As we close in on the opening of the Central branch at Ādisōke, this budget begins the work to ensure we are ready to deliver programs, services and collections on Day 1."
The 2025 budget was developed in line with City Council directions and includes investments to meet the needs of the community. The key priorities for 2025 are:
- the provision of operational requirements for the Central branch at Ādisōke;
- a continued investment in developing the library experience (in branch and online) including public engagement activities to inform our service delivery models;
- the provision of funding for a branch to serve the growing Barrhaven community, and;
- the implementation of a new brand strategy.
OPL’s Chief Librarian / CEO Sonia Bebbington said: "I’m happy to report that, by looking at internal efficiencies, we have been able to identify $1.6M that we will be able to reinvest into library services. This will help fund the improvement of branch hours of operation in rural communities, the integration of a community development approach into identified priority neighbourhoods as well as furniture and equipment for the Central branch."
The 2025 budget also includes a 2.5% increase in user fees for meeting room rentals.
