Toronto Scarborough Civic Centre Library | ?m | 1s | TPL | LGA Architectural

[interchange42]

It's open!

Quite beautiful. Wonderful space to be in.

42

 

[Edward Skira]

Very beautiful but it looks quite small. Is it?

 

[Skeezix]

Wonderful photos - thanks. Looks like a great facility.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Expect to see this one in the architectural mags - the interior reminds me of the Skyrose Chapel.

AoD

 

[Torontovibe]

That looks amazing!

 

[interchange42]

Very beautiful but it looks quite small. Is it?

Much more spacious than, ahem, our office.

I'm going with, hmm, 6,000 square feet?

42

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I vaguely recall 16K.

EDIT: Apparently 14.5K

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-70370.pdf

EDIT2: Though the architect's website suggest 18K

http://lga-ap.com/project/libraries/tplscarborough

AoD

 

[Edward Skira]

So small it is

 

[interchange42]

Maybe there is a hidden lower level? It's a stretch to see where there would be 8,000 square feet on the main level though.

42

 

[88drums]

A gorgeous timber building, lush trees, moderately shiny condos in the back. Are we sure this isn't Vancouver?

 

[Marcanadian]

Gorgeous building. Possibly the best public library in the city?

 

[junctionist]

There are many great libraries in the city. Take Runnymede or Lillian H. Smith, for instance. TRL is best in my opinion for its impressive interior. From a user standpoint, I like North York Central because its collection is massive, and you can borrow most of its materials. That's the kind of library Scarborough should have as well at its city centre.

 

[Skeezix]

That's the kind of library Scarborough should have as well at its city centre.

Are there libraries like North York Central anywhere else in the City? (TRL is a completely different animal) North York Central is a vestige of pre-amalgamation decision making, where the old North York invested in one large library, while the old Scarborough never followed through on the funding promises for central library that had been planned as a central feature of its city centre. Many years later, do we have any evidence that large central libraries would work better than the neighbourhood and district branch strategy being pursued by TPL? (especially in light of funding constraints and the opportunities presented by technology) Even if large central libraries were determined to be a good strategy, why would Scarborough City Centre merit one before any other parts of the city (even other parts of Scarborough)?

I'm not necessarily dismissing your comment, or rejecting it (you might be right), but I just wonder to what extent this issue has been examined beyond the bald "Scarborough Centre deserves a large central library" comments from years past in this thread.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

It's kind of moot at this point anyways, given the shift from the physical requirements of housing books to being a hub for all kinds of information services (and as a "social space").

AoD

 

[junctionist]

Are there libraries like North York Central anywhere else in the City? (TRL is a completely different animal) North York Central is a vestige of pre-amalgamation decision making, where the old North York invested in one large library, while the old Scarborough never followed through on the funding promises for central library that had been planned as a central feature of its city centre. Many years later, do we have any evidence that large central libraries would work better than the neighbourhood and district branch strategy being pursued by TPL? (especially in light of funding constraints and the opportunities presented by technology) Even if large central libraries were determined to be a good strategy, why would Scarborough City Centre merit one before any other parts of the city (even other parts of Scarborough)?

I'm not necessarily dismissing your comment, or rejecting it (you might be right), but I just wonder to what extent this issue has been examined beyond the bald "Scarborough Centre deserves a large central library" comments from years past in this thread.

A conveniently located central library is great because you can find a lot of different materials in one place without having to go to multiple branches. The big libraries also tend to have a lot of space for people to use. However, the neighbourhood branches are also important to the system. They're community spaces. They make the collection more accessible and promote literacy. They provide convenient internet access to people who don't have it at home. The downside to local branches is that they generally don't have significant collections.

The issue is as relevant as ever. People still like to read paper books, and most books ever published haven't been digitized. The library as a social space also needs physical space. Is there enough space to hold a talk at this branch like at the atrium at TRL? Scarborough has a similar population to North York--625,000 people. Scarborough city centre is supposed to be its heart with rapid transit, the civic centre and a major mall. Most Scarborough residents are quite far from a library like TRL with a large collection where they can find a lot of different materials in one place. A large central library would definitely be beneficial.