On a 2010 visit to Dawes Road branch, its bunker-like exterior stood in striking contrast to the warm and lively interior. From the lobby, I saw an occupied community room to the right and a large noticeboard devoted to immigrant services. Some of the programs included English Conversation Circles and more formal English classes.
Dawes Road reminded me of Thorncliffe Library before its renovation. Both are small neighbourhood branches that serve a large multicultural population, many of whom live in tower blocks like Cedarview Apartments and Crescent Town. At Dawes Road branch, patrons can borrow materials in Bengali, Chinese, Tamil, Urdu, French, and Hindi. For example, here is a Bengali/English book about Floppy’s friends.
Although Dawes Road resides in one big square room, the Children’s section has the means to be separated by a curtain. I liked the non-fussy atmosphere of this corner of the building, especially the simple stain-glass window decorations made from black Bristol board and waxed paper. Adding Halloween flavour was a purple polymer bat on a chain.
In addition to the bat, a freaky check out desk and eerie information area upheld the Halloween theme. Normally-sensible signs were draped with faux spider webs and festooned with pumpkin-headed scarecrows, monsters, and spiders.
I was tickled by the idea of a haunted returns box that featured a caution pumpkin beside the book slot. I wished for an audio device that could emit ghastly moans every time an item was dropped in the box. Even better, a reproachful voice could wail, “Your books are overdueooooooo!” when it detected a late return.
Before I took my leave, I checked out a volume on Greek and Latin word origins. The librarian processed it with a spooky scanner that unnerved the check-out experience with a plastic spider.
Walking back to the car with my spider-scanned book, I felt impressed by the high level of Halloween spirit that Dawes Road had displayed.
When I returned in 2015 to take new pictures for an exhibit, the check-out spider had crawled out of the premises. However, I discovered a hand-painted treasure map on the west wall just to the left of the beige curtain. I inquired about the artist of the map and learned that she was a beloved local teacher who used to bring the children in her classes to the library.
The creases, tears, and taped-up bits enhanced the artifact’s appeal, for though the map was old, much care had been lavished on its creation.
The map also served as an excellent backdrop to showcase Dawes Road’s varied book collection.