Book enthusiasts residing in Ottawa’s Hunt Club neighborhood may soon have their very own library branch. The Ottawa Public Library Board initiated the process for establishing the new facility, signaling a positive development. Councilor Riley Brockington, representing the River ward, emphasized the community’s prolonged anticipation for this essential amenity.
Brockington highlighted the significant gap, noting that with 50,000 residents, their urban ward stands as the sole area in Ottawa lacking a library. He expressed the community’s eagerness for the resources and services the Ottawa Public Library offers, indicating a strong demand for educational and recreational materials.
Historically, residents had limited access to library services, relying on options like the bookmobile and self-service lockers at the Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre on McCarthy Road. The absence of a nearby library branch posed challenges, with Greenboro and Alta Vista branches, situated about four kilometers away, being the closest alternatives.
Addressing the accessibility issue, Brockington emphasized the lack of direct bus routes to any library branch, underscoring the difficulties faced by families without private transportation. The upcoming library branch aims to bridge this gap by offering not only a diverse collection of books and resources but also meeting spaces, internet access, technology support, and engaging programming for the community.
The Ottawa Public Library’s Craig Ginther noted the swift progression of Hunt Club on the library’s priority list for underserved areas, climbing from fifth place in 2022 to third in 2025, following the central branch and the Greenboro branch. Plans for the Greenboro branch’s renewal further underscore the commitment to enhancing library services across the city.
Although the precise location is pending confirmation, the library intends to secure a lease near the existing Hunt Club library services, leveraging the popularity of the current setup. The search for a suitable site is already in progress, with a projected renovation cost of approximately $2 million for the new branch.
Pending city council approval, the anticipated opening of the new library branch is slated for mid-2027, offering a promising prospect for Hunt Club residents to access a comprehensive range of library amenities and resources.