3.3 Community Stakeholder Focus Groups Two workshops with community stakeholders and library users were carried out on April 21, 2021. The meeting brought local agencies, educational institutions, community advocates, library volunteers and interested members of the public together to discuss the future of Brampton’s library branches. Participating Organizations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Brampton Library Branch Volunteers Arts, Culture & Creative Industry Development Agency Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives The Hive Performing Arts Centre Rose Theatre Brampton Multicultural Centre The Regional Diversity Roundtable Achev
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Elizabeth Fry Society Family Education Centre Peel District School Board Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Peel Alternative School North Moyo Health & Community Services Roots Community Services 16. Members of the General Public
A summary of themes from the two workshops is consolidated below. The Library Brings People Together
Library branches were described as places where people from different walks of life can be found, and where community organizations can bring their members together in spaces that are inclusive and affordable. Participants discussed a continued need for new and renovated libraries to be mindful of designs that provide physical accessibility, offer accessible and gender neutral washrooms, and consider spaces for personal reflection, prayer and Indigenous Smudging Ceremonies.
People are Looking for Space
Whether meeting rooms for community organizations to convene or deliver services, study areas for students, or simply places to sit comfortably, space within library branches is highly sought after. Certain stakeholders indicated that they could have up to 30 participants meeting at a time and thus adequately sized rooms would be beneficial.
Arts & Culture in the Library
Libraries are seen as places that embody, nurture and develop communitybased arts and culture. Participants value the tools, equipment and services provided to creative individuals (e.g. 3D printers and recording equipment found in the makerspaces) but also the space that the Library has offered to groups such as those in the performing arts. With affordable studio and creative space in short supply across Brampton, the Library was encouraged to push the idea of makerspaces even further. This could include artist space, “messy” space, shared studios and coworking spaces. A suggestion was made to optimize use of the recording studio to further career goals of individuals in the performing arts, potentially through a partnership between the Library and a theatre(s). A future library could also consider a basic black box theatre intended for small recitals and rehearsals. The potential to combine a future library with a farmer’s market and other community spaces was also raised.
Library Facilities Master Plan Monteith Brown Planning Consultants Ltd. + Perkins & Will
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