Southwest Library Branch

Brantford is getting a new public library branch!

A new Library Branch will be built as part of a joint build that includes an elementary school, daycare and city-operated recreation centre. 

The facility is expected to open in 2026. The building will be located off of Shellard Lane in the southwest area of the city.
The 13,500-foot Library will have dedicated public parking, collections for people of all ages, quiet study spaces and an outdoor reading area.

Details on the facility and adjacent sports fields and can be found on the City of Brantford website and the Grand Erie District School Board website.

Project Updates

Brantford, Ont. - Some of the youngest residents of West Brant sunk shovels into the ground today to officially kick off construction on a joint-use project between Grand Erie District School Board, the City of Brantford and the Brantford Public Library at a site which will include an elementary school, recreation centre, public library and other amenities to serve the growing community. The space will also include a 24-acre park, sports fields, meeting spaces and walking paths.

The groundbreaking event, held at the corner of Shellard Lane and Strickland Ave, included an Indigenous opening and closing address, remarks from staff members representing each partnering organization, Milan Novakovic on behalf of MPP Will Bouma and members of Brantford City Council including Mayor Kevin Davis, Councillor Rose Sicoli, Councillor Michael Sullivan, Councillor Mandy Samwell and Councillor Gino Caputo.

The project represents a total investment of $67,079,386, with more than $33 million provided through Capital Priorities, Child Care Capital and Land Priorities funding through the Ministry of Education. The new school will accommodate 650 students in 23 classrooms and four Kindergarten rooms, and includes a four-room, 64-space child-care centre within the 108,000-square-foot building. The school is expected to open its doors in September 2026, and will alleviate population pressures on neighbouring Edith Monture, Agnes G. Hodge and Walter Gretzky elementary schools. The new library branch will serve the school as well as the community at large, and includes 13,500 square feet with programming space, study rooms and an outdoor reading terrace. Construction begins next month.

Quotes:

"Breaking ground on a new school and community hub marks an exciting start to what will be a multi-faceted space to learn, grow and be inspired. Thanks to funding from the Ministry of Education and this partnership with the City of Brantford and the Brantford Public Library, we're laying the foundation for a community asset that will serve generations to come."

Susan Gibson, Chair, Grand Erie District School Board

"This project has been a partnership in the truest sense of the word, and thanks to a lot of cooperation and collaboration, we're achieving something greater than the sum of its parts. Our thanks to the community partners and the Ministry of Education for sharing in this collective vision of what's possible."

JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education, Grand Erie District School Board

"I am very excited that the new Southwest Community Centre and Park, including Brantford's first regulation size Cricket Field, along with a much-needed day care centre, will greatly enhance quality of life for residents in the rapidly growing west end of the city. I am grateful to our partners for their collaboration on this important joint initiative, that will ultimately provide essential spaces for residents to learn, connect, celebrate culture and stay active.”

Kevin Davis, Mayor of Brantford

“The expansion of library services into West Brant is a long-standing goal of the Library Board. Convenient access to the library means more opportunities for literacy and learning activities, discovery, and connecting, for residents of all ages.”

Marion McGeein, Chair, Brantford Public Library

“Partnerships are essential to the work that we do at the Brantford Public Library, so this project is especially exciting for us. Through this shared facility, we’re experiencing partnership in a new way, to the benefit of each partner and the community members who will be using our spaces.”

Rae-Lynne Aramburo, CEO/Chief Librarian, Brantford Public Library 

 group of people with shovels at groundbreaking

                             

The need for a new library branch in Brantford

A recent Library Planning Study revealed that, amongst 20 comparators, Brantford ranked last in terms of the number of library branches per population. 

This study revealed that Brantford already has a current library space deficit of more than 23,000 square feet, based on library best practices. This shortage will become more drastic as Brantford's population continues to grow. In just 20-years, by 2041, Brantford's population is expected to be 144,000.

In addition to a space deficit, there is also a shortage of physical library materials available in the Brantford Public Library's collection. Currently, the Library offers 1.54 physical items per resident (in addition to a robust digital collection). This is well short of a recommended 2.3 items per person. 

By building a 13,500 square foot library branch in a joint school and community centre, residents of Brantford will benefit from improved access to library services and gain a deeper connection to the community.

Read more about the Library

Become a member