Saskatoon Public Libraries’ CEO excited about new central library

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With the city’s new central library expected to be completed in 2027, Saskatoon Public Library’s new CEO says it’s an exciting time for the organization.

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Carol Shepstone has more than 20 years of experience working in libraries across Western Canada.

She has roots in Prince Albert and at the University of Saskatchewan, but most recently worked as the chief librarian at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has been the CEO since the beginning of November, taking over from interim CEO Beth Côté, who continues to work for Saskatoon Public Libraries (SPL) as its director of public services.

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Shepstone grew up in Saskatoon and says it has always been home.

“The opportunity to come back and join SPL and to work in Saskatoon, to be working in a public library that has such a creative and talented team that is making such a huge difference to the community, is really a wonderful opportunity,” Shepstone said.

Being involved with bringing the new central library to completion is an exciting opportunity, making it an ideal time to come back to the the Bridge City, she said.

After years of debate and discussions, imagining and reimagining, ground broke on the project in June 2024. The library’s lease at the Frances Morrison Central Library location expires in December 2026.

Duchuck Holdings Ltd. bought the property for $4.45 million in 2023. The 78,000-square-foot Frances Morrison building was constructed in 1966.

Shepstone said caveats are in place to allow the library to rent out the Frances Morrison location in the event that construction of the new building takes longer than the remaining lease term.

Construction tendering is roughly 60 per cent complete, and is expected to be finished this spring.

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According to SPL, the budget remains $134 million. The four-floor facility will be spread across 124,860 square feet.

The original proposal was for 149,000 square feet, but that was scaled back to around 136,000 square feet after city council five years ago rejected the library board’s borrowing request, settling on a lower amount.

Shepstone said she has received a lot of response from the community about how much people love the library, adding that the new building is an important contribution to the city.

“The community is so connected with and supportive of the whole SPL system.”

Shepstone said safety and security are considerations in the design of the building, and special attention was given to things like sight lines and how people move through the space.

“We’ve been able to work with experts in that area around environmental design with an eye to safety and security.”

Shepstone acknowledged some have expressed frustration over the cost of the new building. She understands it and is trying to address those concerns, she said.

“The capacity and creativity of the organization, the reach and the range of programs and services, and the unwavering commitment to community building and lifelong learning is truly impressive,” she added.

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“I’m focused on the future of the organization. I look forward to working to strengthen relationships between the library and our patrons, stakeholders, donors and community partners.”

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