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fl»1he Waterloo public library will become a threeâ€"branch system. Waterloo city council approved the recommendaâ€" tions of the library board Monday night to redevelop the main library on Albert Street and build two new branches at an estimated cost of $10.5 million. Waterloo approves public library expansion plans The second annual Waterloo ice Dogs Festival took over the Regina Street parking lot, next to City Hall, Saturday, with families flocking to the various winter activities The day included celebrity dogâ€"sled races, snow and ice sculptures, which Kirsten Dougall (right}, 2, of Waterloo, used to create her own masterpiece, huskies and malamute puppies, and an ice maze, which Nige! Robinson, 7, of Kitchener, tried to navigate around. City will redevelop main library, add two new branches Ice Dogs cool down the uptown By Jennirer Ormston For The Chronicle The priority is to develop the two 21,000â€"squareâ€"foot district branches, the first of which would be in place for 2007, on the west side of the city, and the second for 2010 on the east side, said Tim Jackson, chair of the local library board. The city‘s population has outgrown the existing library facility and, by 2016. 74,000 square feet of library space will be necessary to This _ redevelopment would include allocating 12,000 square feet to sysâ€" temâ€"serving functions, such as administration and techâ€" nical support, and approxiâ€" mately 21,000 square feet would be redeveloped to meet the public service needs of the facility model. This decision eliminates the possibility of a joint facility with the Kitchener public library, an option that The restructuring of the main library is a lesser priorâ€" ity and would likely occur towards 2016. meet the projected populaâ€" tion size. tm musery Protas He also said the plan falls within financing restraint parameters. The model could be supâ€" ported on the library board‘s Jackson said "the public played a huge role" in the consultation process of establishing this recomâ€" mendation, including parâ€" ticipating in public meetâ€" ings. However, Jackson said the relationship between the two libraries is strong, and he is hopeful they will be able to come to an agreeâ€" ment on reciprocal borrowâ€" ing. had been considered "In short, I think this plan is the right plan for this community," said Jackson. "I longâ€"term funding target of $30 per capita; currently, the library receives $28 per capiâ€" ta from the city. "I don‘t want this remarkable evening to be hijacked over a glitch." Ward 4 councillor â€" Mark Whaley Coun. Mark Whaley responded to his colleague by asking him to "take a leap of faith," as the fibrary board has consulted the commuâ€" Coun. Jim Bolger, the only councillor to vote against the recommendaâ€" tions, voiced his concerns regarding the role the Albert McCormick branch would play in the new model and the consideration he feels should be granted to those who reside near that locaâ€" tion. think now is the right time to execute this plan." Continued on page 4