The building is old, and its systems and structures are failing. Library services are being impacted by the limitations of the current building.

Our staff do a great job now. We are making do, but we are stuffed into the space.

Anytime we want to introduce something new, we have to move or remove something else. Space is at a premium and it’s limiting us from doing all we could do for the community.

In early October, 2025 Regina Public Library board issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a developer partner for a renewed Central Library. This is the first part of a two-step process. Select proponents from the RFQ will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposals (RFP) competition in early 2026. RPL expects a developer to be chosen by mid 2026.

Developers will be subject to an affordability cap to keep costs within the library’s budget. Proposals may include renovating or enhancing current structures, building new, sharing space with another tenant, or similar scenarios.

Presently, RPL is preparing to move a portion of its Central collections, and some administrative functions, to an off-site location. The move helps ensure city-wide and province-wide circulation and other back-office work can continue in the event Central is forced to close due to the building’s significant deficiencies. All materials will still be available through the province-wide catalogue.

Provision of other services would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The environmental impacts of the current building are considerable and every year it remains standing is another year of harmful impact. A renewal will allow us to amend these issues so we don’t have as much impact in the years to come.

RPL is committed to a safe and welcoming environment at Central Library. With the support of workers from Family Service Regina, and the Commissionaires, we have created a customer-first method of addressing issues before they arise. This has decreased the number of incidents we’ve seen previously, and increased safety at CEntral.

This update in approach will be augmented with a new building: a good library design will naturally enable safety.

For example, a challenge we have with the current building is the front entrance: it’s set back on the lot, and there is a large lobby, both of which can create a perception of a safety concern. Fixing this is a top priority.

We have not made any decisions regarding the status of the current building.

Branch renewal is important too! RPL recently completed a review of its current branches, and will focus on branch renewal, and potential other library services locations, once Central Library Renewal is underway.