City Council approved the 2025 Guelph Public Library (GPL) budget at a special meeting for Local Boards and Shared Services on January 22.

Some of the key components that the Library will move forward with in the coming year includes:

• Hiring six full time and one part time staff member to support increased operating capacity for the new Central Library
• Planning and purchasing the opening day collection, funded by Development Charges, to fill the new space, which is three times larger than the current Main Library
• Enhancing staff training and development to support new and emerging technology and social needs in the community
• Preparing and updating critical building and technological infrastructure across the Library network

The Library budget reflects a 6.5 per cent decrease over 2024. The decrease is due to $1.6 million in debt funding for the new Central Library moving from the Library’s budget to the City of Guelph’s budget with a net 0 impact to the tax base.

“This budget reflects the Library’s commitment to continuing to deliver equitable service to the Guelph community while balancing the need for fiscal responsibility,” says Dan Atkins, CEO of the Library. “As we work toward opening the new Central Library and strengthening how we deliver service at our branches, this investment will have positive long-term impacts.”

This funding will help with facilitating language learning, technological support and job searches, delivering programming to the community at vulnerable points in their lives, connecting vulnerable people to supports and inspiring creativity and community.

"Crafting the City's budget is a complicated and challenging process,” adds Danny Williamson, Chair of the Guelph Public Library Board. “On behalf of the Board, we extend our gratitude to Mayor Guthrie, Council, and City staff for their vision and their support of this next stage of work toward the successful opening of the new Central Library. Council's support of GPL’s work is a testament to a shared vision for the Library that extends beyond simply the bricks and mortar to an animated and expert-led piece of critical civic infrastructure, with space, materials, and programming that is accessible to all."

The Library’s 2025 budget was approved by the Board of Directors in September 2024.

Resources

Revised Council Agenda
Watch the Council meeting

Media Contacts

Danny Williamson, Chair
Board of Directors, Guelph Public Library
williamson.d@gmail.com

Dan Atkins, CEO
Guelph Public Library
548-855-0390
datkins@guelphpl.ca