THUNDER BAY — The entrance through which patrons access the Thunder Bay Public Library’s Waverley branch is slated for an overhaul, as the existing large ramp at the front of the building needs to be replaced.
Pieces of the ramp's front façade have been crumbling and falling off for some time, said Richard Togman, the CEO of the Thunder Bay Public Library, which necessitated patching of the concrete. That façade was home to a mural, created in 2014 by Definitely Superior Art Gallery’s Die Active Art Collective—as part of the repairs, it’s been painted over.
“Over time, the front-facing section of the ramp, the materials had effectively just started crumbling and failing in a more systemic way where pieces of the mural were literally chunking off and kind of falling off into the plants and onto the sidewalk,” he said. “So it got to the state where it kind of wasn't viable.”
Simply replacing the ramp as at currently stands isn’t an option, Togman added, as it no longer meets standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The ramp leads into a large extension, built in the 1970s, said Togman.
“Basically, the entire ramp structure went from what originally was a very functional, modern build to today where it was literally breaking apart and crumbling before our eyes, and most of its major features had failed,” Togman said.
This year, he added, the library will examine a number of options for how the main entrance to the building will look and function. Options could include building a new ramp that meets current accessibility standards or making the entrance to the original part of the building that faces Waverley Street accessible. That work, he said, will be part of broader discussions on revitalizing the aging branch as a whole, with a key focus on accessibility.
“One way or the other, the ramp in its current stage, it’s probably not long for this world, but hopefully will be a part of a broader package we'll be working on through the first six to eight months of this year about how do we really reinvigorate Waverley Library and turn it into a fantastic showpiece for the Waterfront District BIA.”
Issues like this, Togman added, highlight the need for continued investment in the library system. And while he said that it’s too early to pinpoint what this type of revitalization will cost, it’s money that needs to be spent.
“It's just one of those things that over time, like the library system itself, public funding hasn't kept up—big investments that were originally made, you know, 30, 40, 50 years ago—we haven't seen those reinvestments made in the library system,” he said.
“Our past is catching up with us and it's really hit the fan when it comes to that ramp.”
