On my first visit to Hillcrest Library in 2009, I was impressed by the lovely green spaces that surrounded it and how enthusiastically it celebrated Easter. The lobby showcased a holiday display on three shelves behind a glass screen.
Egg-blessed nests rested near stuffed rabbits who were kitted out with straw hats and carrot accessories. One bunny exuded pastel cool with pink spectacles and a purple felt hat with holes for his ears to flop through. Nearby, other rabbits could be seen wielding a wheelbarrow and gardening with a shovel. Framing the dynamic mammals were two large Easter baskets overflowing with chicks, eggs, grass, lilies, and yet more bunnies.
My second visit to Hillcrest fell in autumn instead of spring, but the harvest display was equally effective. I liked how the wheelbarrow once pushed by a rabbit had resurfaced to serve as a nut, corn, and pumpkin transporter for a fuzzy squirrel.
Moving into the library proper, I surveyed the large square room of this pleasant neighbourhood branch. Hillcrest’s size, layout, and atmosphere were very similar to those of Pleasant View, Elmbrook Park, and Goldhawk Park branches.
In addition to a comprehensive selection of fiction and non-fiction, Hillcrest Library had a solid ESL section, from which I selected an abridged reader about The Beatles for my class. Sizable French and Chinese collections were present, and I noticed Persian books on the shelves during my second visit.
In the northeast corner of the room, a window bench invited sun-loving readers to lounge for a spell by the broad windows. I didn’t see a bench in 2012, but the chairs in front of the windows were very popular. Fifteen minutes after opening time, every sun-chair had a claimant.
A few steps away from the lounge in the southwest corner was a shelf that contained lost and found items. On my 2015 visit, I was struck by the rich textures of the hats and scarves left behind, and I thought they made fun subjects for a photo shoot. The toque with a lime-green smiley face seemed especially personable.
One last distinctive Hillcrest detail was a satellite mobile that dangled from the ceiling near the checkout desk. The satellite was shaped like a jack, and its many limbs came in purple, green, yellow, blue, and pink. Purple balls jutted from the ends of each jack-extension.
Gazing at the psychedelic satellite was an excellent diversion while waiting in line, and in a cosmic second I was a book richer thanks to Hillcrest Library.