Brodie Library closing doors temporarily

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 05, 2025 4:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 5

Thunder Bay's Brodie Library volition temporarily adjacent its doors this summertime to let for renovations, including improvements to information and security.

The closure begins June 16 and volition past until September. 

"The impermanent closure is portion of that broader facilities plan," Ruth Hamlin-Douglas, TBPL caput librarian, said successful an interrogation astatine the subdivision connected Thursday, adding that different renovations are besides going to beryllium made astatine different branches, including Waverley Library.

However, Brodie Library has seen an escalation successful security-related incidents. While each branches are seeing specified incidents, TBPL CEO Richard Togman told CBC News successful a erstwhile interview, the Waverley and Brodie branches, which are located successful the northbound and southbound cores, respectively, are seeing the highest number.

"A impermanent closure astatine Brodie has been portion of the restructuring plans we've been making for the Library strategy from the start," Togman said successful a connection connected Thursday. " "However, successful airy of the expanding and escalating information incidents astatine the branch, we're adjusting our docket to prioritize the Brodie changes."

The changes see hiring caller information staff and altering the layout of Brodie Library. "There volition beryllium a circulation table truly overmuch person to the doors than it is now," Hamlin-Douglas said. "We're looking astatine a circular table truthful that determination is amended show lines each around."

The main postulation volition beryllium moved to the precocious floor, portion the probe section volition beryllium located connected the little level, Hamlin-Douglas said.

"Our representation cabinets, our microfilm cabinets, each of that is moving downstairs to wherever the probe folks volition beryllium situated," she said. "We're cautiously looking astatine the travel truthful that, for example, the children's areas mightiness not beryllium close adjacent to the machine area." 

Staff volition stay connected the occupation during the closure. The probe section volition respond to requests via email, and the Brodie postulation volition inactive beryllium accessible done inter-library loan.

In addition, unit volition receiving grooming connected caller lawsuit service and information procedures.

"We've been much flexible successful the past fewer years astir identification," Hamlin-Douglas said. "We're present requiring that everyone get either a room afloat room card, oregon an E-service card, which requires identification, successful bid to entree the computers."

"That's due to the fact that that's wherever a batch of our incidents stem from," she said. "And often too, erstwhile we telephone the police, we've got a interest if we don't person a name. If I lone person a archetypal sanction for someone, it's not ever capable to travel through. So we privation to marque definite we've got amended power successful that respect and that increases information for some the unit and the public."

"We're besides going done and conscionable looking astatine things similar however often are radical expected to locomotion astir and cheque the corners? Where are those cameras placed? So it's nary 1 thing, but it's each the pieces arsenic they travel together."