Bayview Library (2003): A Restful Pool of Books in Bayview Village Mall

This bookmark celebrates the branch head of Bayview Library, Jerry Lomoro, who spoke with me on the phone before my visit in 2011. The bookmark’s muse kindly took me under his wing when I arrived on site; he offered me tea, gave me a visitor’s badge, and told me about Bayview’s impressive circulation numbers (372,036 in 2010).

While he chatted with me, Jerry tidied up the remains of the Tea and Books event, which had just finished. It had actually been the debut of the group, and more than a dozen patrons, mostly seniors, had gathered in front of the library’s only windows to discuss Writing in the Age of Silence.

The Tea and Books elderly participants represented a traditional demographic in the library’s history.  Jerry said, “Bayview used to be pretty homogeneous, mainly seniors, Jewish or WASPy, but now we have more immigrant families.” He attributed the greater diversity to the construction of nearby condominiums in recent years, which has attracted new Canadian families. “Last summer (2010) we had 80 kids in our reading program.”

The theme of that’s summer reading program was Destination Jungle, and one of the 80 children had illustrated this fun jungle scene with an alligator gliding down a waterfall. Almost a year later, intrepid yet patient giraffes were still awaiting their turn to go down the falls.

I enjoyed the 2011 bookmark contest display, which had yielded the portrait of Jerry above. One child who was more inspired by jungle animals than branch head librarians had drawn this cheerful (yet comparatively risk-adverse) giraffe.

Inspiration was also present in the interactive decor of Bayview’s Children’s Section. Tinted translucent circles that demarcate the north side of the area promote playfulness and creativity. For example, Jerry told me that kids often peer at each other through the circles and play games with them. Library design that engages patrons is not just an abstract concept at Bayview!

I loved how there was a deepening of the space as I walked towards the north wall. Carpeted steps brought me lower, as if the lobby and lounge comprised the deck of a large pool and the steps took me down into the water.

There was even a handrail to help patrons transition into the pool of children’s books at the centre of the branch. And the multi-coloured steps turned the ordinary act of descending stairs into something extraordinary.

Around the corner from the kid’s area was a very pleasing nook. It was the kind of place that made me want to do some homework, any homework. Alas, I didn’t have any, so I had to make do with taking pictures of books. Even though Bayview is small, it has respectable Chinese, Korean, and French collections, so I had plenty of material to choose from.

The image of a garden dance brings this post to a close, but I must not leave without sending a big Thank You to Jerry and the other Bayview Library staff (especially Norm) for making me feel so welcome at this bustling yet restful branch. Each of you deserve a joyful bookmark portrait in your honour!