Type
Key Messages
Organizational Excellence
- Q3 Report Received: The Board received the Q3 2025 Quarterly Report, highlighting progress on strategic priorities and annual goals. This quarter’s spotlight focused on Community Partnerships, featuring positive community feedback that recognized the Library as both a valued community hub and an excellent workplace. The full report is available on the Library’s website and in accessible formats upon request.
- Strategic Planning Steering Committee Update Received: Vice Chair Joanne De Visser, Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, provided an update on project progress. The Committee will meet again on December 3 to review results from the Space Utilization Study consultations, conduct youth engagement, and identify next steps to address remaining data gaps.
- Budget Timeline Extended: CEO Jennifer Murley reported that the first draft of the 2026 Budget will now be presented at the November 20 Board meeting, alongside the Q3 financial report.
- Craigleith Working Group Deputation Received by Council: Board Member Laurey Gillies shared an update on the Craigleith Working Group’s deputation to Council. The presentation included a series of budget requests emphasizing the need for expanded library services in Craigleith and the importance of community visioning sessions to guide future space planning.
- Library/Town Collaboration: Director Gibbons’ follow-up staff report on the Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment (MURFA) has been delayed. The CEO will provide further updates once new information becomes available.
Community Hubs
- L.E. Shore Space Utilization Study Contract Awarded: CEO Murley announced that the contract for the L.E. Shore Space Utilization Study has been awarded to Salter Pilon Architecture of Barrie, Ontario. Consultants Marc Bartolucci and Julie Lang attended the meeting to introduce themselves and share early progress.
Staff consultations begin Thursday, October 23, followed by a Community Open House on Tuesday, October 28, from 6–8 pm at the L.E. Shore Memorial Library. The event will allow residents to meet the project team, learn about current space challenges, and share ideas for the library’s future.
Empowering Services
- CEO & Curator Update on the Status of Digitization Received: CEO Jennifer Murley and Curator Alessia Farris provided a verbal update on digitization efforts at the Museum and Archives, recognizing the ongoing work of staff, volunteers, and interns. To date, more than 9,000 items have been digitized. However, digitizing newspapers and microfiche remains a significant challenge due to the cost and complexity of the materials.
- BMPL's 30th Anniversary Celebrations Ongoing: CEO Murley shared highlights from the first of several 30th Anniversary events, which offered space for the community to learn about Indigenous history, culture, and traditions, and to explore artwork and cultural objects.
The Daughters of Aataentsic exhibit will be featured in The Gallery throughout October. The next event, “On Book Banning with Ira Wells,” will take place on Friday, October 17 at 7 pm at L.E. Shore. A full list of anniversary events is available on the BMPL website.