Disguised as an unassuming beige box, Northern Elms Library (2005) proved to be an oasis in a concrete desert. Although strip-malls along Kipling and Rexdale compassed it round, this small branch offered quiet and sunlight to its urban patrons.
From a black cushioned chair in front of the east window, I absorbed solar energy while I admired Northern Elms’ compactness. Moderately busy on an October Saturday, the library’s entire holdings fit into one room.
Dark orange, creamy yellow, and pale green covered the walls, and the floor tiles echoed these colours in both swirly and linear patterns. Composed almost entirely of glass, the south wall easily delivered light for the entire outfit and nourished extrovert flowers beside a wooden lattice.
Hovering from the ceiling in the Children’s section was a circular structure that looked like a UFO mothership. However, it differed from commonplace spaceships in that it was tricked out with four dainty hanging lamps.
Closer to the ground, a yellow table top in the shape of a fried egg was joined by a red chair with a heart-shaped back, a yellow one with a flower back, and a green smiley-face chair.
This corner of the library wasn’t just about the cheery furniture, though. On my first visit in 2009, gravitas was added by mysterious images of spiral galaxies and nebulas on a nearby bulletin board. When I returned in 2013 to take pictures of the branch, the board’s theme was “Fall Into Reading.”
Don’t let Northern Elms’ small size fool you. Its grounded yet cosmic appeal transcends gas stations, money markets, power lines, and parking lots.
4 replies on “Northern Elms: Refuge for the Strip-Mall Weary”
I started out years ago thinking I would one day visit all 99 libraries. I have made it to about 50 or so and added Northern Elms to that list yesterday.
I have to say that out of all of the branches I have been this is one I probably won’t go back to. The small collection and an environment that seemed sterile to me aren’t positives for this branch. The mall environment and suburban-style parking lot greatly reduce the character of this branch. It reminded me quite a bit of the Bayview branch.
A few blocks up the road one finds the Rexdale branch, similar in size but oozing infinitely more character and the feelings I generally associate with being in a library.
I would agree that Rexdale had more history and character than Northern Elms, but I still enjoyed my visit to the latter. Do you have a favourite library of the 50 or so you’ve visited? I hope you’ll continue your quest!
I’m not sure if I have a favorite based strictly upon the architecture and/or decor. I do like some of the smaller branches for the community feel and in some cases the coziness. Rexdale would likely be one of these, Taylor Memorial, Long Branch and Victoria Village would be a few more. Elmbrook Park and Highland Creek are two others along these lines but with a bit more of a modern feel. Brookbanks and Hillcrest are two small branches that somehow come across to me as being sterile despite the small and more isolated buildings. I’ll also agree that Humberwood is nice. It seems underutilized and the quietness of the branch, particularly on Saturdays is at times puzzling.
But because I like to load up on books and then not come back for a while I tend to favour the larger branches. Most of what I read is found just by wandering up and down the rows of shelves in the non-fiction section so the bigger the collection the better the chance to find something unique. I do try to get around as many branches as I can to see as much of the collection as is reasonable, especially considering the large number of books that may only be represented by two or three copies across the whole system.
As far as district branches go I think my favourite is Albion. Despite the neighbourhood the building seems cared for and rather cozy-feeling despite the larger size. The huge green letters painted at roof level inside spelling ALBION LIBRARY are unique as well. I find this branch has a great selection or non fiction and I always find lots to read here. I recently overheard two staff members moaning about renovations that are supposedly delayed indefinitely and I wondered what plans had been (or are still) in the works for this branch.
The “look” of Albion with the finished ceiling with open space near the lights and beams is very similar to Mississauga’s Malton branch. I have been in all of the Mississauga branches and would suggest that you could continue your library pilgrimage out there.
I also like Malvern for the good selection. I see it almost as a twin of Albion. The nuisance at Malvern is the crappy self-serve sign out system which often seems to be more of a hassle than a help.
Unfortunately a lot of the district branches are shabby looking likely because of the heavy use. To be blunt, I consider Eatonville, Albert Campbell and Northern District to be dumps. Cederbrae would be in that list too but renovations should change that. Richview is headed that way. Fairview is shabby despite renovations and a nuisance with the small and constantly crowded parking lot.
Northern Elms is indeed in a post-apocalyptic location. So are its users. Parkdale and NE are the two highest-needs branches in the system, which I define as “The neighbourhood would suffer egregiously if they closed.”
Northern District branch is not a “dump” unless we’re talking about upstairs.