A recent rainy afternoon found me at Mimico Centennial Library, a friendly neighbourhood branch in southwest Toronto that was built in (surprise!) 1967. As I walked up the path to the front entrance, I noticed that Mimico Centennial’s grounds were much more extensive than those of libraries in land-strapped downtown. Inviting long benches rested on a courtyard, hinting at future summer relaxation under the trees.
The library’s interior was equally spacious and uncrowded, with floor-to-ceiling front windows. One of the windows featured paper icebergs, snowflakes, and polar bear families floating in a carefree, random manner. Other windows came with blue leather window seats, and I was especially delighted with one quiet corner where the seat afforded a view of a sturdy pine tree. Imagine the poems, math assignments, doodles, love letters, and journal entries that have been composed at that very spot!
In addition to its daydreaming opportunities, I was impressed by the size of Mimico Centennial’s Polish collection. Polish books filled almost two-thirds of one entire wall of shelving, the other third comprised of materials in Russian, with Spanish and ESL also making a respectable showing. Shifting my gaze from the shelves to the ceiling, my curiosity was intrigued by two iron staircases leading to an upper level. This higher perch occupied part of the ceiling space of the main floor and served as a study area (similar to Wychwood branch). The stairs beckoned, so I went up to investigate. I was surprised but not displeased to find mostly empty space. Only a few tables distracted from the vast expanse of carpet, and I saw just one educational display, a literacy tool that utilized twenty-six paper frogs stuck on the wall. Each frog was wearing a letter on its belly, and lists of words which started with that particular letter were written underneath. Six of the alphabet-loving amphibians were still patiently waiting for their words: frogs J, K, Q, V, X, and Z.
After descending the south staircase to return to the main level, I found a DVD on Bollywood dance and trotted over to the checkout desk. The personable librarian told me to enjoy my selection. Then I dashed down to the basement level to admire a glossy round table made from a giant tree-trunk. The carvings of buffalo, foxes, and maple leaves provided just the right Canadian touch to enhance the patriotic quality of a library constructed one hundred years after Canadian federation.
No related posts.