What is currently a hole in the wall of a former bar will soon be the location of "the nicest boutique library in Ontario," according to Barrie Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson.
A rendering for the new Letitia Heights branch of the Barrie Public Library was unveiled by dignitaries and library officials on Wednesday afternoon at the site on Leacock Drive in Barrie.
Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony noted the importance for having a branch to service neighbourhoods like Letitia Heights, which income inequality compared to other areas of the city.
"This is an older neighbourhood in the city," Barrie Public Library CEO Lauren Jessop told Barrie360. "When you look at the data, there are more lower income families, more families with only one vehicle... that means that they can't get to our other locations as easily. So having something right here in the neighbourhood within walking distance to so many people is really important."
It will be the fourth branch for the Barrie Public Library, and first since the opening of the Holly branch within the now-Peggy Hill Team Community Centre. Another library branch of over 3,200 square metres is in the works for the city's new south-end recreation complex.
Nonetheless, not much is expected to differ between the two facilities described as "boutique" branches.
"The interior will look largely the same as Holly, but a lot more open," Jessop said. "The ceiling goes up a couple metres above [the current] roof line, so it will be very open, very airy; but in terms of the services that we offer at Holly versus here, it will be largely the same kind of offerings."
City-provided renderings show large windows surrounding the exterior which are meant to allow natural light to fill the space and create a connection to nearby Lampman Lane. Park neighbourhood.
Despite initial concerns, the new locations popping up this decade are not taking away from existing branches According to the Barrie Public Library's 2025 annual report, since the Holly branch opened in 2022, the system has seen a visitation increase of over 58 per cent.
"It's added more card holders to our system overall, and we have more active users of the library than we ever have had," Jessop said.
The interior design for the 418-square-metre facility is still being finalized, therefore , the city says, it is unable to provide an estimate for construction costs.
Construction is expected to be completed late in the fall.
The CEO says that library officials constantly get requests from residents to consider adding branches in various parts of Barrie that aren't currently serviced, and the library will advocate for more once the new council takes office in November after the municipal election.
