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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

The Scattered Lattice Shadows of Goldhawk Park (1992)

I first visited Goldhawk Park in 2009, and my original write-up included Steeles and Bridlewood branches as well. This time I’d like Goldhawk Park to have its own post. It deserves it!

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Goldhawk Park’s most salient attribute is its restful park setting, and I loved how the library’s wide windows made the most of the views, especially when paper snowflakes accessorized the panes in winter.

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In addition to the window art, I was impressed by a group of elderly T’ai Chi devotees who were performing liquid moves in a courtyard on the north side of the library. Not to be outdone, the indoor seniors were equally committed to constructive activities. For instance, I noticed one man reading a newspaper with a large magnifying glass, soaking up the sun beside a window.

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While the morning sun warmed the backs of mature readers, it created scattered lattice shadows everywhere I looked. A quiet library transformed into a solar gallery!

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Even the books seemed brighter, and I enjoyed selecting volumes to showcase Goldhawk Park’s multilingual collection.

My second and third visits to this calming branch felt like a celebration of sunshine! Thank you, Goldhawk Park, for your light, your trees, your snowflakes, and your peace!

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

At Home at Bamburgh Gardens Shopping Plaza: Steeles Library (1987)

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Located on the left side of a walkway leading to the mall, Steeles Library was very compact, and the homey impression created by its lime green walls was taken up a notch by the presence of several stuffed creatures on top of a high shelf: a gorilla, Tweety Bird, and Marvin the Martian.

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These stuffed entities lined the south wall of the library, not far from a reading corner for youngsters. A padded bench along the east wall had been placed under a bank of windows overlooking the covered walkway. This bench seemed ideal for small readers with big imaginations. Sheltered below eye level, they could read without being detected by the mall shoppers who bustle back and forth outside. “Heh heh!” a thought bubble might say, “I’m reading here and you don’t know it!

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Despite Steeles’ limited size, it was possible to find areas of expansiveness, including some restful views of trees and parkland from the north windows. I even saw a bird on a branch!

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The program room floor was a carpet of stars and planets, a reminder of the limitless world of creativity contained in books. Where else could a cat share a swing with birds or a frog dress up like a tourist?

As I prepared to leave the library, I took a moment to admire how busy the library was at 10:30 on a Friday morning. Nearly every chair was occupied by a reader, and it made me happy to see so many folks consuming words instead of mall-products.

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Steps away from the exit, a diagonal length of bike rack pointed the way to some open recreational land behind the mall. I loved how the same sense of openness and possibility filled the deceptively small confines of Steeles Library!

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Supremely Popular Agincourt Library (1991)

When I pulled into the Agincourt Library parking lot at ten o’clock in the morning, almost all of its 85 spaces were taken, and as I walked through the branch, I observed that the interior was also densely populated. In my travels, I came across only two free tables, even witnessing a 30-second transfer between the vacating of a study carrel and the next occupant rushing in to claim the space

In addition to Agincourt’s impressive rate of usage, I noticed a lot of positive changes since the 2009 renovation. When I complimented the Branch Head on it, she said the branch looked more open now. Open was an apt word to describe the circular atrium that offered a view of the second floor and the interior of a pyramid at the apex of the building.

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Another round structure filled the interior of a short turret in the Children’s area. Two tiers of cushioned seating in a horseshoe shape made for a magical and comfortable storytelling theatre.

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I was also taken by the sight of jungle animal cutouts on the wall and the sound of voices singing Alouette in the nearby program room.IMG_1431IMG_1427IMG_1412The song’s notes lilted from the open door of the program room, spilling cheer into the corridor. As I passed by, I caught a quick impression of rainbow mats, a large screen with a film playing, and a lot of lively family interaction. One caregiver was in the hall with a baby who was delighting in a row of silver hangers. As he played them like a xylophone with his hands, he laughed in response to their rattling chimes.

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From the hanger studio, I walked over to the stairway to the upper level. I loved its grandeur and the way the perspective narrowed to a focal triangle at the top. Was it the base of an ancient temple or an urban library surrounded by grey buildings?

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Once I climbed the steps, the sturdy learning centre grounded me, as did the murmuring of study groups and discreet slurpings from McDonald’s coffee cups and thermos flasks. I wondered if the patrons sitting cheek by jowl lived in the blocks of high rises I could glimpse from the windows. From the manner in which many folks had camped out with bags, laptops, drinks, and mending piles, it seemed as though they were creating a temporary home away from home.

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One downside of Agincourt’s popularity was that the Teen Area was serving as an overflow basin for patrons who couldn’t find an available patch of Wi-fi real estate. I worried that laptop-toting adults were crowding out real teens from their library space. While visiting other branches, I’ve witnessed grown-ups being shooed out of teen zones after school hours, so I hope the same practice happens here.

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Before I left Agincourt, I took some time to admire the astonishing range of languages at this district library: Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, and Urdu. I also paused to study a row of acrylic paintings by Daniel Wilkes. My favourite was Der wold und sein Nordlicht (The Wolf and his Northern Lights), especially because the Northern Lights belonged to the wolf.

Finally, I returned to the parking lot and gazed at the iron structure over the entryway. It resembled a pull-out bed on a railway carriage, perhaps a symbol of the library’s role as a second home for citizens of a megalopolis. With so many hospitable facilities on offer, Agincourt has undoubtedly earned its remarkable popularity.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Distinguished Barbara Frum Library (1992) Does Not Disappoint

A large district branch near Lawrence and Bathurst, Barbara Frum Library honours the famed CBC broadcaster and journalist who died of leukemia shortly before the library opened in 1992.

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Barbara Frum’s library impressed me with its comfortable elegance, a composite of palm fronds, floral vine diamonds, high windows, and soaring ceilings. There were signs of wear and tear, such as graffiti in the study rooms, but it must be a challenge to keep such a large and busy branch in perfect condition.

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I loved the dignified staircases to the second floor and third floors. The landing provided a grand perspective of the temple-like columns beside the main entrance.

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The columned lounge on the east wing of the main level wowed me with its expansiveness and sweepingly high walls.

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The Children’s Area in west wing did not disappoint either. I was especially charmed by a semi-circular window bench on the north wall. An informal puppet show must have recently taken place there, for a lone cow puppet lay discarded on the windowsill.

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Children’s Wing, South Wall. Photo taken in 2015.

Whimsical decor prevailed in the Children’s Area, as manifested in tabletops with eyeballs in a dark forest and hand-painted chairs that invited sitters’ wrists to rest on flowers.

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In addition to a playful spirit, the west wing housed a large multilingual collection that included French, Hebrew, Hungarian, Russian, Tagalog, Chinese, Somali, and Yiddish.

The main level of the branch is also home to the Jewish Mosaic Collection, which contains materials on “anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, Jewish biographies, music, Kosher cooking and literature” (TPL website on the JMC).

Thank you, Barbara Frum Library, for offering knowledge, classiness, palms, and quirky furniture, all of which help celebrate the memory of a Canadian media icon.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Evelyn Gregory Library on Trowell (Near Eglinton Avenue West and Keele)

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Trowell Avenue ranks high on my list of pleasing street names, and the charm of Evelyn Gregory Library lived up to its address. A stand-alone building with a low roof, big trees on the lawn, a large rock, and a picnic bench, it blended well with its residential surroundings. In this respect, Evelyn Gregory reminded me of Bendale, Victoria Village, and Mimico Centennial branches.

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Completed in 1968, Evelyn Gregory’s interior also conveyed a domestic vibe. Its central checkout area had a warm brick wall behind it, which complemented the low ceiling and informal atmosphere. The patrons seemed right at home, which was confirmed when I overheard a librarian asking an elderly gentleman if he had enjoyed his holiday.

To the left of the staff’s friendly bailiwick was the Teens and Children’s Zone. The south wall of this section contained a large window next to group of trees, greenish light pushing through the canopy. While I was gazing out the window, a ghoulish scream made me jump. I swiveled to my left and saw a grayish-green zombie face on a nearby computer screen.

Composure restored, I walked to the west wall to study a mural that looked several decades old. Against a pale blue background, kids were sledding, rollerskating, building sand castles, playing leapfrog, and blowing bubbles.

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The east side of the library lacked murals, but there were inviting carpeted ledges that jutted out from the base of two sets of wide windows. The ledge was too narrow to be an out-and-out bench, but there was just enough room to accommodate patrons with a resolve to perch.

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One young reader had snagged the coveted corner where the two ledges met to form a right angle. This spot afforded a more secure surface from which to lean back against the warm glass and fall into the pages of a book. (On my second visit to the branch in 2012, I was disappointed to see signs that banned ledge-sitting).

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Near the popular reading corner, tall shelves were filled with non-fiction materials, including Spanish, Portuguese, and ESL offerings. A few shelves away, Evelyn Gregory’s DVD collection was especially robust, and I quickly found a good movie for later that evening. Bidding the branch farewell, I checked out The Secret Life of Bees and returned to the shaded sidewalks of Trowell Avenue.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Classy High Park Library (1916)

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Like its sister branches, Wychwood (1916) and Beaches (1916), the interior of Carnegie-funded High Park Library boasts a high timbered ceiling on the second floor. Its Edwardian dignity creates a calm, even sanctified atmosphere; one of the librarians told me that patrons often ask if the building used to be a church. At Christmas time, High Park’s spiritual character is highlighted by carolers who find a natural perch on the minstrel gallery on the east side, projecting their voices into the depths of space.

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On my first visit, I trotted up the steps to the singing platform, glorying in the perspective it provided. Standing on this interior balcony, I could take in the entire south wing of the upper level.

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I enjoyed looking at the dark brown timbers, the central stripe of orange paint, the stone hearth, and the painting above it. From this elevated roost, I could imagine the thousands of thoughts, from the dullest to the most sublime, which have floated in the ether above readers’ heads for almost a century. Once upon a time, gentlemen in cravats and cuff links composed purple poems to ladies with puffed sleeves, the soaring ceiling a container for daydreams.

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I appreciated the solitude of the lofty gallery, the way it provided a place apart to study and think. When I returned to the second floor proper, I discovered another nook along the south wall. This alcove held the Jobs and Literacy collection and a hopeful skylight, the perfect spot to set goals for personal and professional development.

After tilting my head back for a serious bout of window-gazing, I walked to the north wing, only to find more windows to appreciate, especially the large one facing the side of Emmanuel Howard Park United Church. The Teen corner (with its bench shaped like a corner of a picture frame) had an air of openness thanks to the high windows that overlooked the greenery below.

The expansiveness of the upper floor gave way to a cozier lower level, which was primarily devoted to children’s materials. The Kid’s Section was supervised by a friendly whale in mid-leap who hung suspended from a library ceiling. Despite its amiable expression, vexing this marine mammal would be inadvisable, especially as it guards access to the air conditioning unit.

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To the right of the whale was a carpeted reading theatre. The stage was empty on the afternoon of my visit, but it was heartening to see a family gathered around a nearby low table. As a father read a story about pigs to his young daughter, I recalled the sound of my dad’s voice when he used to read The Little Engine that Could, Green Eggs and Ham, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Before taking leave of this classy and historic branch, I silently gave thanks for all the caregivers who take the time to read to children and cultivate a love of words, books, and libraries.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Paper Blog Journal Entry about Dufferin/Saint Clair (Formerly Earl’s Court Library)

From my seat at a wooden table in the north wing of Dufferin/St. Clair Library (1921), I can see books in Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish on the shelves to the right. On my left, four square columns in grooved wood separate me from the large central hall, location of the famous Reid and MCarthy mural (1925-32).

All photos of the Dufferin/Saint Clair murals taken in 2015.
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Confined to a painted arch, the panel entitled “Community” is most visible from my perspective. In this tableau, robed figures recline on boulders and lean against trees. Their receptive poses seem ideal for absorbing wisdom from their spiritual leader, a tall man with a beige jacket draped over his shoulders. His slack sleeves flap as he stands with a beige book in his hands, and lack of eye contact has made his audience inattentive.

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More than static stoicism of the figures, it is the mural’s greens and browns that draw me into the next room to take a closer look at the entire piece. The mural’s panels cover the four walls of the original main room of Earl’s Court Library (1921), presenting a total of ten arches that frame different scenes: Community, Nature Study (seekers draped on large stones that ring a delicious pool of water), The Story Hour, The Family, Philosophy, and forest scenes with square windows gleaming between tree trunks.

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In the four corners of the room, torches with scrolls wrapped around their bases fill the spaces between the panels’ arches. The scrolls bear the names of Tennyson, Carlyle, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Scott, Kipling, and Barrie (echoing the names on the stained glass windows at Weston Library).

On the north and south walls, the spandrels contain blank open books with quill pens placed diagonally across them. More torches appear, this time with scrolls inscribed with Science, Art, History, Biography, Romance, Adventure, Religion, and Philosophy.

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On the whole, I like the mural’s classical yet down-home sensibility, and I’m very glad the library decided to restore it. My only hesitation concerns the historical context of the figures’ clothing. Some of the outfits reference the toga, but others are more generic shapeless garments suitable for outdoor lounging in a variety of eras. Are the mural’s inhabitants ancient Greeks or mythical Canadians discussing literature in the bush? As long as everybody keeps reading and learning, perhaps the answer is not important.

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Turning my attention from the mural’s mysteries, I find the Teen’s Section in a corner room off the main hall behind the checkout desk. Two benches that meet at a right angle compose a study nook, complete with table. There’s also a row of computers, a listening station equipped with headphones, and a nearby window bench.

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Moving to the south wing, the Children’s Area is equally well-appointed, with wide, high windows, comfortable benches, and bright walls in lime green and dark purple. Even the bookshelves manage to be cheerful and fun; circular mirrors attached to their sides allow very young children to regard their reflections. Overhead, an amiable wooden dragon offers his tail as a frame for a KidsStop sign. The majority of the dragon’s body lies flush against the wall, but its tail juts into space, effectively folding the creature in half.

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Below the wall-dragon is a magical entryway made of crossed wooden arches resembling a cathedral vault. The path under the arches leads to the KidsStop playroom which boasts a wooden puppet theatre and a large wooden dragon in the centre. On the dragon’s flanks hang magnetic letters, a colour wheel, a spin-a-story game, and a lever to press for the song “Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”

Against two walls, a low wrap-around bench stores books underneath its seat, and a giant Read to Your Bunny book is attached to another wall for a stand-and-read experience. Opposite the arched entryway at floor level is a shadow box framed by a wavy red border. The box contains a phone that connects to Dial-a-Story, a library service that allows kids to listen to stories in a variety of languages.

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Not to be outdone by the main hall, the playroom (formerly called the Children’s Clubroom) has its own recently restored mural, which was painted by Doris McCarthy in 1932.

Cinderella dominates the west wall, and in her loose-fitting gown she looks like an effervescent flapper, more apt to do the Charleston than waltz round a ballroom. The prince is handsome, but the gold nodules on his crown appear to have unnerved his love interest.

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The south wall belongs to Jack and the Beanstalk. In this section, Jack’s mother is trying to dissuade him from climbing the stalk, even though the giant doesn’t look very intimidating in cross-gartered slippers. There’s also a diaphanous fairy with wings who bends over a window. With the window frame to support her upper body weight, her toes are free to dangle in a flower bed.

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Jack the Giant Killer, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and Puss-n-Boots occupy the east wall, where Mama Bear’s apron and a candy cane chimney stand out as interesting details. In contrast, Jack’s sword and the drop of blood oozing from the giant’s dead mouth make for disconcerting viewing.

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The north wall is devoted to Little Red Riding Hood. In these panels, instructions are given by the mother and forgotten by the daughter, which results in a dangerous encounter. However, the wolf looks so outrageously comfy in his stolen pink nightgown and cap, he seems more likely to drift off into a deep sleep than gobble up a red-caped flibbertigibbet. (Perhaps Doris McCarthy painted the wolf to look so cuddly to avoid frightening very small library patrons).

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Surveying all four walls, I admire the imaginative system of borders that unifies the entire composition. The borders also ground the murals in the natural world; the top border contains rows of owls with leafy vines separating each bird while the side borders feature squirrels instead.

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After passing back under the arches, I return to the main part of the south wing, noting a Preschool Lounge with a long window bench, computers, and circular tables with plastic chairs.

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My final stop is the Earl’s Court Room, a combination study hall, community meeting room, and local history repository. As I gaze at old photographs of Earl’s Court, I reflect on what I admire about this historic yet colourful branch: the braided green of the central mural’s borders, the pink and white quilt of the youngest bear, and the gold of the prince’s playful crown.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Hillcrest Library (1975): #72 on my Quest

2012

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Somewhat Overlooked Guildwood (1974)

Guildwood Library bides in a strip mall, inhabiting a storefront that faces the main strip. Establishments across from the library include Sunny’s Bar and Restaurant and a dry cleaning facility that recycles metal hangers.

While homey, Guildwood is not noted for style, flair, or a dynamic colour scheme. However, during my second visit I noticed furniture improvements, especially the armchairs beside the storefront windows. I liked how the sunlight filtered through their wicker backs.

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I also admired the homemade Christmas ornaments that I saw in 2011. Children had decorated paper cutouts of hot chocolate mugs, toques, snowflakes, skates, and snowmen, which were then strung from the ceiling in the Children’s Area.

Although the heap of fabric gift bags arranged on a shelf with an orangutan was festive, the only detail that puzzled me was the Santa figure’s remarkable lack of jolliness. Despite the regulation suit, he seemed far too young and stern to play the part of old Saint Nick.

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With an undeniably grouchy expression, he looked more like a 19th century Prussian soldier than the embodiment of Yuletide cheer. I also found the hands encased in pantyhose off-putting.

Dwelling no further on Santa’s shortcomings, let me return to the many positive aspects of Guildwood branch. Testifying to its status as an essential neighbourhood resource, the library was fully occupied during my two visits, and the service users were from a mix of generations and backgrounds.

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In addition to its success at attracting patrons, Guildwood features two notable romance titles: Warm and Willing and Criminally Handsome. While it may be a stretch to describe Guildwood as handsome, it is certainly a welcome source of community warmth in an otherwise bland strip mall.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Neoclassical Library Adventure at Queen and Saulter (1980)

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On my first sojourn to Queen and Saulter Library, I walked right past it after I disembarked from the streetcar on Queen East. Doubling back, I looked up at a massive Neoclassical building in light brown, marvelling at its bulk and scale. Standing on the sidewalk in an overt display of gawk, I read an inscription about the history of 765 Queen Street East.

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Designed by E. J. Lennox, the building was completed in 1913. Huge stone columns testified to its seriousness of purpose, which befitted an edifice that served as Postal Station G from 1913 to 1975. In 1980, Queen and Saulter Library became the new occupant of this substantial and venerable structure.

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Heavy wooden doors that opened to reveal a second entrance confirmed the impression of gravity, as did the marble floor and check-out counter. However, the high windows brought dramatic life to the interior, offsetting the more subdued colours of the exterior and entryway.

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To further soften the formality, pots of plants populated the broad windowsills, a glass case displayed cat figurines, and a belled toy dragon inhabited a ledge.

Small tapestries illustrating nursery rhymes and fairy tales warmed the south wall of the library, including one in which a wolf lurked in a fabric valley, his eyes focused on the top of a hill where a little pig was holding his ground in an arc of cloth.

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On more recent visits to the library, I noticed that the tapestries had been taken down. Nevertheless, the welcoming character of Queen and Saulter remained as striking as ever, making me thankful that this old building still stands tall and serves the community as it has for over a century.

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Exhibit Information for Catherine’s TPL Pilgrimage

Catherine’s Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage:

Photos of 100 Branches

July-August  2015

at North York Central Library, Toronto

Second Floor, West Side of Atrium

North York Central Library

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Bendale Library’s Staircase
City Hall Hen and Carpet
City Hall Hen and Carpet

Artist Statement:

I began visiting and blogging about each branch in the TPL network in 2007 and taught myself digital photography along the journey. The 100 photos in this exhibit celebrate the beauty, diversity, and spirit of community service that I discovered on a pilgrimage through an extraordinary library system. (If you’d like to hear more about the origins of the project, please check out this short radio interview with CBC’s Matt Galloway).

Taylor Memorial's Stained Glass Window
Taylor Memorial’s Stained Glass Window
Flowers Behind the Bookcase at Perth/Dupont
Flowers Behind the Bookcase at Perth/Dupont

Artist Biography:

Since 2007, I have been developing a diverse portfolio of collage, mixed-media, encaustic, textile, and photographic work. In 2011, I exhibited “Maps of Loss: Rivers, Ruins, and Grief” at Richview Library, which was followed by “Mosaic Dream Waves” at Runnymede branch in 2013. Last August, the Tate Gallery in London, England selected my collage “Jenny’s Purple Tuftscape” to be part of a Collage and Texture digital display.

Sparkly Wall Panel at Kennedy/Eglinton
Sparkly Wall Panel at Kennedy/Eglinton

I love teaching collage workshops at libraries, studios, and at Centennial College. I have also enjoyed enriching my art practice through weekend and evening classes at OCAD (encaustic) and the Toronto School of Art (drawing and collage).

Photographer's Shadow at Don Mills
Photographer’s Shadow at Don Mills

Your attendance at this exhibit would be cause for dancing delight!

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Centennial Library (1966): A Jewel Among the Pylons

2012

Tall pylons and chimney stacks near Bathurst and Finch provided the backdrop to Centennial Library, which stood in front of the Herbert H. Carnegie Centennial Centre, a recreational facility.

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Beside the library’s entrance was a leggy sculpture by Ron Baird that I studied before entering a large square room with a central dividing wall that partly bisected the room.

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Windows comprised the majority of the library’s south-facing wall, and plenty of reading chairs invited patrons to take advantage of this open and well-illuminated space.

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On the first Saturday that I visited Centennial, every possible reading perch was occupied by patrons concentrating on their thoughts, goals, and lessons.

Books in French, Hebrew, Russian, Korean, Tagalog, and English offered opportunities for mental enrichment and self-improvement. And for those in search of lighter reading, the Romance section had Desert Ice Daddy and The Cowboy Wants a Baby.

The Children’s Area was on the west side of the central dividing wall and boasted a colourful spring scene made from paper. A long tree branch stretched across part of the west wall and presented its cherry blossoms to the viewer. A paper plate drenched in yellow served as the sun, and the cherry branch arched over a large mushroom that in turn sheltered a yellow bird under its eave.

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I enjoyed Centennial’s unpretentious cheeriness, and it struck me as a down-to-earth branch that provides helpful services to patrons who live in the surrounding high rise apartments. For example, on my second visit, I noticed more than a dozen clients had lined up before opening time on a Saturday to take advantage of free MAP passes. By ten past nine, the passes for Ontario Science Centre and Royal Ontario Museum had been snatched up.

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Even though I didn’t try for museum pass on that visit, I was grateful for the books and CD’s that Centennial Library lent me. Tucking the materials in a bag, I returned to the parking lot in the shadow of a mystically-looming Hydro pylon. And that was the end of my 73rd library visit!

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Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Spadina Library (1977) Inspires

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When I called on Spadina Library in 2011 with my camera, it was fortunate that the branch was uncrowded, for I was able to gaze at dream catchers, artwork, and the extensive Native Peoples Collection without annoying patrons who might have needed to navigate around me.

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As a viewer taking her time to look around carefully, I appreciated the diversity of the First Nations, Inuit and nature-themed objects that rested on shelves and hung suspended in the air.

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For example, two hand puppets with fur-lined parkas stood a shelf away from a miniature canoe woven from plant fibres. A flamingo marionette hung next to a striking assortment of dream catchers that kept aerial company with a flying wooden duck.

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Closer to the ground, librarians had created a path to the Children’s Collection by laying down animal tracks on circles of blue, green, and yellow paper. The book-loving animals that had imprinted their paws and hooves on the carpet included bears, raccoons, and deer.

Animal themes also animated the collection of Eleanor Kanasawe’s artwork on the walls. Placed overhead at well-spaced intervals were striking portraits of owls, spirit fish, turtles, baby robins, a bear reaching for a bee hive, a frog catching flies, a red-winged blackbird, a squirrel, a cricket, a raccoon, and a porcupine. I loved the way each piece embodied stand-alone integrity while simultaneously remaining part of an integrated whole.

Artwork by Eleanor Kanasawe
Artwork by Eleanor Kanasawe

Moving down the walls from art to books, the Native People’s Collection included novels and non-fiction material about culture, art, religion, history, and languages (plus DVD’s and videos on these subjects). The reference shelves displayed dictionaries in Cree, Micmac, Mohawk, Anishinaabe, Métis Cree, and Chippewa.

Although Spadina Library’s multilingual collection was small, it did contain language kits for most of the languages listed above, as well as Tlingit, Cherokee, Persian, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, and Hungarian. Crouching on the floor to study the kits, the plastic boxes seemed hopeful, holding the promise of travel and communicative adventure.

Inspired by the possibilities of new words and new perspectives, I closed my notebook and made tracks to Spadina subway station.

Categories
Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Quiet Happiness at Annette Street Library (1909)

2012

On a spring day in 2009, I went in search of my 74th Toronto Public Library.  After taking the subway to Keele station, I walked north along Keele Street until I discovered Annette Street. Then I turned left and quickly spotted the solid classical form of Annette Street Library, which opened more than a century ago.

Situated beside a Masonic Temple and across from a church, Annette Street branch shared Edwardian sensibility with Yorkville Library. The year of Annette Street Library’s construction, 1908, was etched in stone above a grand entrance flanked by ramps. Two solid Corinthian columns framed the door, adding drama to the act of ascending the stone steps into the building. As I approached the entrance, I slowed my gait to match the dignity of the temple-like edifice.

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Initially descending into the basement level, I came upon an office devoted to the West Junction Historical Society and its archives. The office was closed, but I was able to peer into a darkened room that was waiting for the next day’s scholars to arrive. This lower level also contained two community rooms concealed behind massive wooden doors with wide frames.

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Retracing my steps to the lobby, I climbed a short curving staircase to the main level, enjoying the heightened suspense afforded by a slight delay in accessing the library proper.

At the top of the steps, the check-out desk appeared directly in front of me. Pausing to get my visual bearings, I looked up and was captivated by the high ceilings with cornices decorated with carved ferns. I also loved the luxurious mouldings and hanging lamps with glass globes.

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An Edison Home Phonograph rested in the gap between the wall behind the checkout area and shelves of children’s books behind it. Moving closer to study the historical object, I wondered how such a thin tube could support the giant unfurled cornucopia of a speaker.

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To the left of the checkout station (and behind it) was the Children’s wing. Filled with a wide variety of books, DVD’s, French materials, and music, this section of the library was all about informative fun. For example, next to a collection of CD-Roms (including one on dinosaurs) sat a stuffed purple Barney.

On a narrow ledge far above Barney’s head, two train sets faced off in opposing directions. The trains were a fitting tribute to Annette Street’s location in West Toronto Junction, which was an important stop for the Canadian Pacific Railway. For more Canadian content, I also enjoyed reading a poster in the non-fiction section that described trees found in Ontario’s Forest Regions: White Birch, Trembling Aspen, Sugar Maple, Sassafras, Tulip Tree, and Eastern White Pine.

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Before I explored the remainder of the building, I paused at a table to get a better sense of the atmosphere. It was fairly quiet on the Wednesday afternoon of my 2009 visit. Most of the windows were open on that glorious May day, making Annette Street Library the perfect oasis to celebrate the end of a long winter.

Eggshell-white walls complemented the pearly natural light which filled the interior, and all was calm, clean, open, and airy. The only element the scene lacked was a gentlewoman playing the pianoforte in an Empire gown while her listeners reclined in states of polite repose.

Imaginary pianofortes notwithstanding, the library also focused on practical matters. When I got up to investigate the west wing, I noticed a special display of books for job-seekers. (Margaret Penman’s A Century of Service: Toronto Public Library 1883-1983 noted that the Toronto libraries performed a similar function in the 1930’s, providing a haven for the unemployed and books on topics such as crafts, welding, sales and agriculture (p. 43)). In an equally helpful manner, Annette Street offered a solid English as a Second Language section and a large collection of French books.

The west wing also housed a Local History section, which contained titles such as Mayors of Toronto and Not a One Horse Town. Supporting the historical theme, portraits of the first five mayors of West Toronto Junction (in office from 1889 to 1898) presided high on a wall near the check-out desk, a quintet of purposeful-looking gentlemen in sober attire. And a nearby plaque commemorated the fact that Annette Street branch (formerly Western Branch) was built with funding from Andrew Carnegie and the Public Library Board of the City of West Toronto.

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Of Annette Street Library’s many charms, one last feature was a pleasing study area that dipped about two feet below the main floor. I found this carpeted depression to be a great spot to take in a view of Annette Street. Although chairs were available, one relaxed patron was sitting on the floor beside the window studying the newspaper. I felt content to linger for several minutes while a quiet happiness filled the sunny room.

Categories
Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Window-box Bliss at Sanderson Library (1968)

2012

I first visited Sanderson Library seven years ago after spending a few hours at Urban Affairs (the hapless branch that closed in 2011). I then walked from Sanderson to College/Shaw, bringing the day’s total library visits to three. In 2012 and 2015, I returned to take pictures of Sanderson.

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Nestled in a busy community centre complex with a pool, outreach facilities, immigrant services, and a greenhouse, this branch felt much more alive than Urban Affairs. At Sanderson, a jug of water in the lobby, the sound of a fussy baby crying, and the presence of a puppet theatre all contributed to a tableau of warm community engagement.

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As I wandered through the adult section — extensive with split-level floor, stairs, and a ramp — I admired the large Vietnamese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish collections. Canadian Literature had an impressive showing, as did the ESL and Literacy section.

My favourite Sandersonian feature was its provision of eight window-box seats upholstered with grey carpet. The one I chose to inhabit had a view of the community garden; from my window I saw tall weeds, a greenhouse decorated with children’s drawings, and white butterflies. The seat captured a glorious patch of sunlight, and I luxuriated there in my stockinged feet for over twenty minutes. Easily made happy, reading in window seats is one of my top ten blissful activities.

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The scene outside Sanderson Library near the corner of Dundas West and Bathurst was less blissful, however. Two tired unhoused men were sleeping away the steamy afternoon under a tree in the courtyard beside a wide expanse of library windows. Just over their heads was a sign yelling READ in big red letters. Separating the two sleepers was an abstract concrete shape, part bench, part sculpture. And on the sidewalk nearby were some murals of mythical creatures painted by an artist called Victor.

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In city with many creative strengths as well as challenges, I’m grateful for libraries like Sanderson that provide a place for all Torontonians to dream in the sun with a book for a spell.

Categories
Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

Return of the Library Pilgrim: Mount Pleasant Library (1992)

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Eight years ago, I paid my first visit to Mount Pleasant branch, a cozy venue tucked between a row of shops on the street that shares its name.

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Very tall shelves — both free-standing and attached to the walls — claim the majority of the space. A wide aisle in the main room allows patrons to settle on mottled blue-and-purple chairs to read the latest magazines and newspapers.

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The most unique feature of the Mount Pleasant branch is a wedge-shaped window seat in the Children’s Section that provides a carpeted perch for readers to observe the sidewalk scene.

On my first trip, a very large stuffed bear had established himself in the secure corner where the southeast wall met the window. When I stopped in to take some pictures in 2015 for an upcoming exhibit, an elephant had usurped the bear.

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In 2016, a collective painting animated the nook’s walls with an endearing collection of images. I especially liked the Arctic hare, the butterfly, and some abstract clouds.

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After admiring the artwork, I left the snug storefront library in a state of quiet contentment. And just a few blocks north, a French bakery awaited!

Categories
Toronto Public Library Pilgrimage of 100 Branches

College/Shaw Library (1984) Among the Roses of Little Italy

2012

Seven summers ago, I enjoyed a self-conducted walking tour of Urban Affairs, Sanderson, and College/Shaw libraries. In 2012 (and later in 2015), I returned to Biblioteca College/Shaw to take some pictures.

The walls of this small branch made an impression on me because they were the colour of key lime pie muted by Cool Whip. I also liked the way the green carpet combined white and green in a vine-leaf pattern. A potted tree accentuated the nature theme, and an aquarium, old sofa, and wicker chairs added to the cozy feel of the place. (Tree, aquarium, and wicker furniture were absent in 2012).

As I took in the entire room, it was inspiring to see how busy it was on a weekday afternoon. Every table had readers bent over their work, and each computer hosted an absorbed user in front of its screen.

Next, I wandered over to the Chinese and Portuguese collections, both residing in a contemplative corner near a circular window overlooking Shaw Street.

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In the southwest corner was the Children’s Section, which included a low window bench with a red leather cover. The window above the seat was plastered with a paper-plate craft display.

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On the 2012 visit, fanciful stickers had replaced the paper plates. The dragon sticker was especially interesting. Why was the dragon licking a bicycle hitching post?

Oblivious to the hungry dragon, two calm teddy bears surveyed the active reading scene from the top of a nearby shelf. They added an additional domestic dimension to a home-like branch that celebrates children’s art.

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On my third visit in 2015, I was struck by the functional beauty of the returns chute, appreciating its role as a transitional conduit between inside and outside, borrowed and returned, potentially over-due and safe from censure.

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After auditioning various library books for the role of Traveler on a Homecoming Journey, I rested at the long computer table by the windows facing College Street. With the word “Revival” in front of my eyes, I felt fortunate indeed to abide among the trees, roses, and bicycles of Little Italy at College/Shaw Library.

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Categories
General Photography

Haiku for Ice Transitions

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Spring fighter pierces

ice lid with instinctive flair

and green resilience.

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Categories
Artwork General

Empire Gown Thought Bubble

Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Empire Gown Thought Bubble, Catherine Raine 2015
Categories
Artwork General

Living the Moment for David Oliver (1942-2015)

"Living the Moment," Catherine Raine 2015
“Living the Moment,” Catherine Raine 2015
"Living the Moment," Catherine Raine 2015
“Living the Moment,” Catherine Raine 2015

Even though I never met David Oliver in person, his larger-than-life presence on Facebook made a deep impression on me. Through a hometown connection to his son Brad, I learned about David’s efforts to create a compassionate model of end-of-life care. I also discovered how much Brad and David adored the band Rush after a double-strength dose of Oliverian charm persuaded me to send both men Rush stamps from Canada in 2013.

Living the Moment, Catherine Raine 2015
“Living the Moment,” Catherine Raine 2015
Living the Moment, Catherine Raine 2015
“Living the Moment,” Catherine Raine 2015

Both in death and in life, David has inspired me, and I hope this collage can effectively reflect his love of travel, nature, family, and the Missouri Tigers (hence the black and gold color-scheme).

"Living the Moment," Catherine Raine
“Living the Moment,” Catherine Raine 2015

Brad told me that haiku was one of David’s favorite poetic forms, and the three arches (a reference to trips to Istanbul) contain one line each from a haiku of David’s. May “Living the Moment” do justice to a brave man who embodied the art of living with cosmic joy and unbridled enthusiasm.