Blake Ellis/The Independent

For some, the writing on the wall was clear; “keep our library open.”

By the end of a two-hour session, coloured post-its covered the walls of the Port Lambton Community Hall, each outlining positives, challenges and actions as community members explored the possibility of consolidating the Port Lambton and Sombra libraries in Sombra.

More than 60 residents took part in the Oct. 1 town hall meeting, which had been requested by St. Clair Township council to gather feedback on the plan floated by Lambton County.

Lambton County’s Manager of Library Services Darlene Coke said the idea came after a childcare facility which was in the same building as the Sombra library branch vacated its space in September 2023. The library services saw an opportunity to expand and asked St. Clair Township, which owns the building, to hold off on filling that space.  

Lambton County council approved the concept of consolidating these two sites in two phases, renovating the Sombra facility creating more space for users and bringing in new services and then moving the library services at Port Lambton to Sombra.

St. Clair Township was also in favour of moving ahead with the first phase of the project when the plan was presented to it in July but asked that a town hall meeting to be held to gather feedback from residents, said Coke. County council agreed and the project was paused until the town hall could be held.  

“It is quite an ambitious renovation,” said Lambton County’s Cultural Services General Manager Andrew Meyer. The plan has the existing Sombra branch going from 1,400 to 5,000 square feet.  Once complete, the collection at Port Lambton will be relocated to Sombra. 

Library hours would also increase from 12 to 25 hours a week. The expanded facility would be fully accessible, have public computer spaces, community meeting spaces as well as a children area. 

In 2022, a study was conducted of all of Lambton County’s then 25 library branches, to determine was needed in 10 years given population growth. The Shetland branch has since closed at the end of August, consolidating with Florence and bringing the number of libraries in Lambton County to 24. 

Many of the county’s libraries are located in repurposed spaces. The existing Sombra library is located in the former Sombra Township council chamber. 

Expectations of services evolve over time, said Meyer. A library classification system was adopted in 2023, based on each branch’s catchment area. 

During the town hall, residents were asked to explore both the positives and the challenges of consolidating both sites at Port Lambton and Sombra. 

Among some of the positives was having a larger collection, having additional programs and services, increased hours and enhanced technology and space. 

Some of the challenges noted were decline in services, especially in Port Lambton where there will no longer be a branch and transportation challenges as some will not be go to Sombra to access library services.  

Several notes on the wall pleaded for the library in Port Lambton to remain open. “Keep our library open” read one.

Library officials said there are ways to bridge some of the service gaps. One of the ways residents can overcome their transportation challenges, library officials said, is to sign up for the library by mail program.

People with transportation or health challenges can have their library materials sent to them through the mail.

A report from the town hall will be presented to St. Clair Township council in four to six weeks.