New cafe still in works for library

City has yet to choose an operator after $12-million renovations

Although a cafe is planned for the newly renovated Peterborough Public Library, it’s unclear when it might open or who might be operating it.

Jennifer Jones, the library CEO, said the city has yet to choose an operator for the cafe and it will be up to that operator to select the fixtures such as counters, fridges and sinks.

That’s why there’s no cafe installed yet, Jones said at a library board meeting on Tuesday, although there’s a space by the mezzanine that’s set aside for it.

Jones also said it’s still unclear who will eventually pay to install the fixtures - the city or the foodservices operator.

On Monday at City Hall, councillors voted to allow staff to approve future food services at several city buildings and venues including the library cafe, the Wellness Centre cafe and Bowers Park Concession.

Coun. Dan McWilliams was surprised at the meeting on Monday evening that the city allows people to walk around the library with food and drink. He was informed by city staff that there’s been a cafe in the library since 1997.

Jones said at the library board meeting on Tuesday that a lot of people have been asking for the cafe since the library on Aylmer St. re-opened after a $12-million renovation.

Also at the meeting on Tuesday, the board voted to wait until April to decide whether to have a couple of large TV screens installed at the library, showing municipal public service messages as well as commercial advertisement.

A new program was instituted in several city buildings, starting March 1: two 55-inch TVs are installed next to one another in buildings such as City Hall and the Wellness Centre.

The board hasn’t decided yet whether the screens are appropriate for the library. The next library board meeting is on the evening of April 24.

... The board voted to wait until April to decide whether to have a couple of large TV screens installed ...