Before I even stepped inside its doors, Gerrard/Ashdale Library‘s unique flair displayed itself on the sides of a concrete platform rising from the sidewalk. On this street canvas, an artist had painted The Taj Mahal, an elephant, a lotus flower, a woman, and a peacock. These lively images in the foreground provided a contrast to the classical building in the background, which embodied the solid assurance of a structure which has presided on this corner since 1924.
When I first visited Gerrard/Ashdale a few years back, the upper story’s wooden beams and fireplace made a big impression on me. Thankfully, my second trip to the second floor didn’t disappoint. With five strong wooden braces and an inviting hearth, this large open room looked more like a fabulous attic in a C.S. Lewis book than an ordinary library wing. Enhancing the magic, a large textile art piece that sparkled with tiny mirrors hung from a brass rod above the mantle. On nearby shelves were resources in Urdu, Hindi, Gujurati, Bengali, and Chinese.
The south wing of the attic housed the Children’s Section. I liked how the ceiling sloped at an angle towards the windows facing Gerrard Street, creating a garret atmosphere where a poet or a child could feel at home. A wooden puppet theatre was tucked under the low eave, and a chess game on the large table nearby waited for its players to return. I admired two skylights above and then sat down beside a round window which comprised most of the east wall. A butterfly mobile inches from my forehead, I gazed at Kohinoor Foods across Ashdale Street, where commerce spilled onto the pavement in the form of green milk crates stacked with purple and yellow onions, grapes, and string beans.
