---
title: "Ottawa Public Library will underspend by $5.75 million in 2026 as Ādisōke stays closed"
description: "The library's new central branch at 555 Albert St. is about one year behind schedule, producing savings in facility costs and staffing that result in a 7.7 per cent budget surplus."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-public-library-adisoke-surplus-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-06T22:02:12.523Z"
---

The Ottawa Public Library will underspend its 2026 budget by $5.75 million, the Ottawa Citizen reported Friday. The savings come from construction delays at Ādisōke, the library's new central branch being built at 555 Albert Street in downtown Ottawa.

The underspending amounts to 7.7 per cent of the library's budgeted expenditures this year. At year-end, the total net operating surplus is expected to reach $5.715 million, or 8.3 per cent of the combined City of Ottawa contribution and operating budget, according to a financial status report set to be tabled at the library board's November 10 meeting.

## Why the savings are building up

The surplus comes from two areas, both tied to Ādisōke not being open yet. First, the library is not paying facility overhead costs such as utilities and maintenance for the new building. Second, it is spending less on salaries and benefits for staff who would have worked in the central branch.

A portion of the City's funding for the central branch is expected to be returned to the City at year-end because not all the money is needed this year, according to the staff report.

Library materials spending, however, is fully on track. Expenditures for circulating materials were fully used up in 2025 and are expected to be fully used again by the end of 2026.

## Construction delays and costs

PCL Construction began work on the 555 Albert Street site in 2021. The project was budgeted at $334 million, shared between the City of Ottawa and Library and Archives Canada, the federal body that is sharing the building.

Construction has not gone to plan. Council was told in December 2025 that the building would not be ready in 2026, as originally expected. Construction is now running about one year behind schedule.

Extra funding requests have added to the total cost. In May 2026, staff asked the library board for another $18.5 million as construction pressures continued. Council approved $11.5 million more from the City's share of the project. Library and Archives Canada approved $7 million more from its share.

## Sunnyside branch closing for work in 2027

Separately, the Sunnyside branch at Bank Street and Echo Drive will close for about six months in spring or summer 2027. The building was constructed in 1951 and needs major work: roof replacement, window replacement, masonry restoration, and sanitary infrastructure upgrades.

The scale of the work means the branch must fully close during construction. The library is looking for a temporary location in the Sunnyside area.

## What residents can do

The library board will hear the full financial status report at its meeting on November 10, 2026. Residents in the Sunnyside area should watch for a library announcement about the temporary branch location before the spring 2027 closure. The tracker for Ottawa's elected officials, who approved the library's funding, is at [/on/ottawa-2026/tracker](/on/ottawa-2026/tracker).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.