This post’s title makes York Woods Library sound like a contestant in a pageant, but I doubt such a solid, functional structure would identify with beauty competitions. When Stewart saw the thick exposed concrete of the interior, he said, “This Brutalist style reminds me of my local library in Scotland in the 1970′s.” Brutalism was new to me, but a quick Wikipedia foray confirmed that York Woods, which was built in 1970, possessed Brutalist concrete blockiness in spades. (The article mentioned that Prince Charles is a prominent Brutalist opponent, so if he ever wants to join the 99-branch club, he’ll need to be put on tranquilizers before visiting this branch in northwest Toronto).
Behind the wide checkout desk at York Woods was a sign that invited everyone to “Enjoy Cricket, Lovely Cricket with The York Woods Library.” In fact, we had just seen a lively, informal game in progress in the parking lot, with a tennis ball standing in for a cricket ball. The community-friendly vibe was consistent throughout the inside of the building as well, from the large variety of languages available on second floor (including Urdu, Spanish, Hindi, Tamil, Polish, and Somali among others) to the Learning Centre’s computer lab and the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection.
Near the Leading to Reading Office on the main floor was a Victory over Violence Exhibit. According to VOV’s website, this program “hopes to inspire young people throughout the world to identify and counteract the root causes of violence.” Posters and large freestanding cardboard displays defined passive violence, verbal abuse, oppression, and social apathy. I was especially struck by Martin Luther King Junior’s quotation: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Promoting early reading skills is definitely something that matters to the Toronto Public Library, as evidenced by the large children’s section at York Woods branch. This part of the library contained a Children’s West Indian and Black Heritage Collection as well as materials reflecting the linguistic diversity of the neighbourhood. A solid window bench waited for readers beside a window overlooking a community garden. And decorating a nearby wall was a cloth jack-in-the box with bells on his cap and a yellow and red ruffle around his neck. Smiling Jack seemed pleased to have sprung out of his box into such a dynamic library.
Having thoroughly enjoyed my tour of York Woods, I went to fetch Stewart, who was patiently reading in an armchair with a view of the garden and a Baptist church. Thank you kind Stewart for being there on my 75th TPL visit!