Penticton City Council is poised to discuss potential changes to its library service model. A decision is expected next week concerning whether to explore a shift from the municipal library system to a regional model under the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).
Penticton Library’s Possible Transition to Regional Model
The internal review will be presented to the council, detailing the possibilities of adopting a regional library service. If approved, the next phase will involve public information sessions, consultation, and community engagement.
Consultation and Community Involvement
According to city staff, any alterations to the library service model must receive voter approval through a referendum. Angela Campbell, the general manager of corporate services, emphasized that the council is not being asked to change current library delivery methods at this stage.
“This proposed next phase is about understanding options and ensuring community input before making any future decisions,” Campbell stated.
Benefits of a Regional Library Model
The analysis suggests that the regional model could enhance access to larger collections, digital resources, and allow for region-wide borrowing options. Importantly, the Penticton library branch would maintain its autonomy, with no threat of closure or reduction in services.
Adopting the ORL model could also ease the financial burden on local taxpayers.
Seeking External Review
The Penticton Public Library Board (PPL) has urged the City Council to employ an independent third party to conduct a comparative review of library operating models. They argue that an objective assessment would provide valuable insights beyond what PPL, ORL, or city staff could achieve on their own.
- Benchmarking against best practices in the library sector.
- Assessment of strengths and weaknesses of each model.
- Recommendations to guide public engagement.
Next Steps and Timeline
If the council decides to move forward, public engagement is slated to commence in early April. This initiative will help determine if a referendum question is appropriate for consideration in the upcoming general election on October 17, 2026.
For further information, residents can find the complete report in the meeting agenda on El-Balad.
