Penticton council to consider exploring a shift from municipal library to a regional service model
Change to regional library?
Photo: Pixabay
Penticton Library could change into a regional model
Penticton City Council will decide next week whether to continue exploring a possible change to its library services model.
According to the city, an internal review will be presented, and council will decide whether they’ll look further into a potential shift from the municipal library model to a regional service model through the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).
Staff said if approved, the next phase will focus on public information, consultation and engagement. This would involve the library board, library staff and the broader community.
“Any change to the library service model would require voter approval through a referendum,” staff said.
The ORL is the fourth largest library system in BC and the 15th largest in Canada.
“Council is not being asked to change how library services are delivered today,” Angela Campbell, general manager of corporate services, said in a news release.
“This proposed next phase is about understanding options, sharing information early and making sure the community has a clear voice before any future decision is made.”
Staff’s analysis found that a regional model could provide access to expanded collections, digital resources and region-wide borrowing.
They added that the Penticton library branch would retain its autonomy, and a regional model would not result in the closure of the local library or a reduction in services.
Joining the ORL could also reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.
In a letter from the Penticton Public Library Board (PPL), the board asked city council to engage an external third party to conduct a comparative review of library operating models.
“An independent review would offer objective insight that neither PPL, the ORL, nor City of Penticton staff can provide on their own. It would allow for benchmarking against the library sector’s best practices, a clear assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each option for the community, and evidence-based recommendations to guide future public engagement,” their letter reads.
Staff said if councilgive the green light to proceed into next steps, public engagement will begin in early April and help inform whether a referendum question should be brought forward for consideration as part of the Oct. 17, 2026, general election.
A full report can be found in the meeting agenda on penticton.ca.
