To enter Oakwood Village Library (1997) was to step into a pale concrete rectangle. I found the interior colours very calming, especially the mottled blue and grey accent walls (as seen below). A balm to thirsty eyes, this spacious branch was a cool drink of water.
Even though Oakwood Village’s straight lines and concrete stairs reminded me of a university library, the lively clientele didn’t allow much academic dust to settle. In fact, a joyfully chaotic face-painting event had just broken up when I turned up to see the library. Phalanxes of strollers streamed toward the exit, only slowed by the odd recalcitrant toddler in the collector lane. Wide aisles prevented any major traffic jams.
On the east side of the room, an empty expanse of carpeted floor waited for the next seated storytelling audience. This open area’s only decorations were a gas fireplace and an exhibit of three art pieces by Barbara Reid. My favourite one presented a mother reading an orange book with the sun on its cover to a baby in a yellow jumpsuit. I loved how the plasticine managed to glow with domestic light.
The upper floor also had a very roomy east side, although it appeared slightly less spacious because of the armchairs for newspaper-browsers. Actually, the second floor was almost exactly the same size and shape as the main level, except for a narrow open space on its north side. I looked down the gap as I leaned against the ledge, catching a glimpse of bookish activity below.
Near the ledge were a couple of wide black chairs whose high backs contained large uniform holes. Since these leather chairs furnished the Teen Section, it wasn’t surprising that I saw two actual teens interacting with them. One kid remained seated while a friend pretended to punch his head through the holes. Clearly, this was not a love-seat. I moved away from the edifying scene to gaze at shelves filled with books in French, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.
With only one floor unvisited, I trotted down to the basement to see the theatre. The door was locked, so I returned to the main level and studied a Halloween book display in three glass cases near the exit. Magic, vampires, witches, Harry Potter, and spooky craft ideas dominated the titles, including Pure Dead Batty. I feel that way sometimes, especially when I realize I’ve visited eighty-seven Toronto Public Libraries!
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