Norfolk County and its Library Board plans to transform the current Port Dover Medical Centre on St. George Street into this community’s new full-service library.

Timing the renovations of the much-anticipated new library depends on when the medical centre becomes vacant by the doctors. The message to Port Dover Board of Trade on Thursday by Norfolk Library Board CEO Bill Hett was Norfolk County has an offer on the current medical building to purchase it from the doctor-owners on December 31, 2011. Councillors have approved the expenditure to buy the St. George Street building and money for renovations of that building. Mr. Hett said the County would work with the doctors to ensure they had a new medical centre to move to before any renovations started.

Mr. Hett was accompanied by Norfolk Library Board chair Tom Morrison of Port Dover. The meeting learned that the recommended size for a library in a community the size of Port Dover is 10,000 square feet. The renovated medical centre will provide 7,500 sq. ft. The point was made that other buildings and sites in Port Dover were investigated and none could be utilized without a great deal more cost. Finances are in place without additional fundraising in the community. However, Mr. Hett noted that suggested upgrades in the range of $100,000 “for a higher standard” would have to come from the community.

The St. George Street building will about double the size of the current library. Mr. Hett stated the plan is to retain the existing main entrance but remove a portion of the upper floor to create an open space with a large skylight in the ceiling “to create a welcoming atmosphere”. There will be large television screens in that area explaining happenings of that day and coming events. Ramps will be installed between the two levels as well as a larger elevator installed.

Port Dover’s new library will have the latest technology for people to fully utilize the library electronically with high-speed internet. Library Board CEO Hett told his listeners that libraries “are no longer four walls” but provide high-tech services around the clock. Books and services will be available without visiting the library and hard cover books could be checked out automatically without the service of a librarian. Most of these modern techniques are available at the Simcoe library branch now.

Port Dover Library will have separate areas for youth and seniors as well as for computer users.

He told Thursday’s meeting that the St. George Street building lacks several things that would be ideal for a new library, naming them as it’s not a downtown location, nor is it a one-floor plan. He countered that by saying the new location is amidst community facilities were people gather -- such as the arena, community centre and high school. As well, he pointed out the St. George Street building is only one block from Main Street and not far from the present downtown location.

The current renovation plan will be updated in the months ahead then a model will be made and put on display in the local library for all to see. That should take place next spring. Suggestions by citizens will be considered before the final plans are approved.

Norfolk Library Board chair Morrison has been on the board since year 2000 and chairman since 2007. He said a new library for Port Dover has been on its agenda all those years. Mr. Morrison explained to The Maple Leaf after the meeting that if a proposed new medical centre construction begins in the spring, following a 15-month timeline, then the St. George Street renovations could begin by mid-summer 2011 … with a possible opening of the new library by late 2011.

The library board has been in touch with provincial agencies regarding current trends in library buildings and services.

Several Board of Trade members at the meeting expressed concern about losing a downtown anchor building. Others enquired if Henry H. Misner Ltd. building had been considered, or enlarging the existing library building. Mr. Hett replied both of those ideas, as well as other locations, including Port Dover Composite School, had been considered. He stated all were discounted because of enormous cost totaling in millions of dollars … all of which would have to be funded within the community. He called the St. George Street plan “is being fiscally responsible.” - Wednesday, November 4, 2009