Heather Wright/The Independent

The Town of Petrolia and Lambton County are investigating an expansion of the town’s historic library.

The plan comes to light in minutes from a recent Lambton County Council committee meeting where councillors were asked to consider using a bequest for a youth bursary be used for building improvements instead.

In a report to councillors, Darlene Coke, manager of library services says population growth is straining resources in the historic train station turned library.

“The town’s library space provision rate of 0.4 square feet per capita is the lowest in Lambton county and the town’s projected population growth will compound per capital space pressures in Petrolia,” she wrote in the report which sought approval to start discussions on expansion.

Coke noted the town received a $300,000 bequest and additional cash which grew the funds to over $440,000 from former Petrolia resident Kathleen Cunningham Schuldt and her husband, Otto.

The fund was to help support the library including $100,000 to provide youth materials, $50,000 for youth outreach and programing, a youth bursary program valued at $50,000 originally and now worth more than $73,000, and $100,000 for building enhancements to the children’s area of the library.

So far, Coke says, $94,394 has been spent on “the cosmetic renovation of the library and some maintenance repairs in the years 2020 and 2022.”

That included a new, accessible service desk, new furnishings, flooring and a paint job. There has also been repairs to broken windows, roof repairs, new lighting and heating upgrades.

Coke said while some of the money has been spent, there are no plans in Petrolia to start a youth bursary program with the cash.

Coke writes that money should be used for building enhancement.

“Given the age of Petrolia Library, and its undersized physical footprint, it would be beneficial to re-direct the funds earmarked for a ‘youth bursary’ and instead apply them to the ‘building enhancements’ category.”

She added part of that money could be used to help the town pay for the $11,000 fire suppression system it installed, which was not in the 2026 budget.

It could also be used for air conditioning upgrades which are necessary.

Lambton County councillors agreed, without any discussion at either the May 20 committee meeting or the June 3 council meeting, with the plan to change the original wishes for the money.

Council agreed to create three funds; building enhancements: $174,475.73; youth programming and outreach: $50,000; and youth materials and equipment: $121,707.09.

“It would also be beneficial for the county to propose to work with the town to have an architect lead a consultation process to determine how Petrolia Library might increase its footprint to better position the library to meet the needs of existing and future residents,” Coke wrote.

County councillors also agreed to move forward with those discussions.