Refreshing Morningside Library (2006)

If you thirst for open space, artistic beauty, and sunlight on wooden beams, Morningside Library is the branch for you.

At first sight, its sun-filled interior resembled a rectangular barn turned art studio, and I felt calm and purposeful as I walked from the entrance into the thick of the shelves. Even though the entire library was limited to a single story, I found so many objects, images, and angles to photograph that I had to scold myself, “Catherine, how will a picture of a leaflet stand, a glass bowl full of blue and silver ornaments, or a fox in a mural push your narrative forward?”

Despite the inner reprimand to take fewer photos, I still rejoiced in visual details such as snow in the skylight, a miniature Christmas tree on the checkout desk, and a Victorian village made out of illustrated cardboard. As Rumi said, “There is ecstasy in paying attention.”

After looking at the library’s collection of ye olde churches, houses, hotels, and stores, I wandered over to a generously wide window seat to the right of the check out area. It seemed the ideal spot to “read, imagine, dream, (and) escape,” which the large mural on the west wall invited me to do.

Completed in 2009, this vibrant wall painting was the result of a collaboration between Rob Matejka and seven youth artists. I liked how the knight was brandishing a brown book with TPL on the cover and proudly sporting TPL’s blue and white (as seen on signs and library cards). When I studied this champion of literacy, my thoughts turned to 2011 city politics: “Just let Rob Ford joust with this righteous advocate for tax dollars well-spent! Confronted by the equestrian’s upraised book, our mayor might tremble in his cost-cutting, gravy-stomping boots.”

In addition to the stirring mural, Morningside branch boasted a wealth of artwork: photographs, watercolours, and oils. Two of my favourites were Adam Hussain’s tall bird and Evette Forde’s abstract piece.

Not only was Morningside art-friendly, but the ceiling, windows, and window seats were artistically pleasing. Even the long wooden table attached to the north wall was lovely in my sight. On the day of my first visit, every spot was taken — a row of laptops glinting in the sun.

I did not initially resonate with the giant wooden oval that hovered mid-ceiling. Likely it was designed to highlight the Children’s area below and its carpet: stripes of brick red, green, blue, and an orange block.

Nevertheless, I am beholden to the wooden feature, for it led me to the lively book covers shown below: kittens playing tennis under a Tamil title, an Urdu-English tale about fortunate corn, and a French story about a grandfather’s maple syrup business. Outside the purview of the elevated oval, the Adult multilingual section had Tamil materials and Hindi DVD’s but nothing in French or Urdu.

All in all, Morningside Library’s open spirit of learning was reflected in its books, paintings, and window seats. At a time when the city budget is being debated, attacked and defended, a library like Morningside exemplifies what truly matters: people over politics, books over tax-cuts, and beauty over pettifoggery.