Ottawa Public Library's board has agreed to investigate the possibility of using a public-private partnership (PPP) to build a new central library branch in the capital of Canada.

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is the library system of Ottawa and is the largest bilingual library (English and French) in North America. The library was founded in 1906.

The central library is located in a 40-year-old building at the corner of Laurier Avenue and Metcalfe Street. About 16,000 people walk through the main branch's front doors each week. The proposed project aims to upgrade the central library building to provide better service to users.

Elaine Condos, a division manager with Ottawa Public Library stated:

The building was built at a time when there were no computers. It was built more as a warehouse for books. The building as it is now can't support the delivery of modern library services.

According to sources, the total project investment would be between CAD$ 40 to CAD$70 million.

In February this year we reported that the shortlist was announced for another PPP project in Ottawa: the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Cardiac Life Support Services Redevelopment project. Local firms such as Bondfield Construction Company Limited, EllisDon Capital Inc., and PCL Constructors Canada Inc, are among those involved in the tender process.