RPL Board leaps forward on Central Library Renewal

Regina is a big step closer to having its own modern downtown library. 

At its regular Board meeting on Sept 23, the RPL Board of Directors approved a motion to move forward with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a developer partner for a renewed Central Library. 

“We are excited to be moving forward with a renewed Central Library for Regina,” Board Chair Marj Gavigan said. “It’s been a long time coming but we’re making progress, and it feels great.”

The RFQ will be released in early October and 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 have reached out to confirm their interest in this project,” Gavigan said. “We’ve heard from businesses not just in Regina, but elsewhere in Canada and other countries.”

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. 

“At this point, we’re open to anything,” Gavigan said. “The community needs something long-lasting, affordable, and incredible, and we look forward to seeing developers’ ideas.”

Gavigan stressed that community involvement is key to ensuring a practical and useful space. “Once we’re at the stage where we’re designing the interior, we will reach out to engage our community,” she said.

The move toward a renewed Central comes after years of concerns raised by RPL about the state of the current building. Costs to update building infrastructure far outweigh the benefits, and critical issues can’t be addressed with temporary fixes. 

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.

The move is expected to take place in early November. 

For more information visit Central Library Renewal.