No need for quiet

It may be sheer coincidence that in the 100 years of library service in the City of Greater Sudbury, a new branch is nearing completion.

The South branch library is about 90 per cent complete, construction crews are well on track for a mid-July opening, according to Ron Henderson, director of library services for the city. Construction will wrap up near the end of May, which will provide ample opportunity for city staff to move in all of the equipment and set it up.

Construction on the 15,000-square-foot library, which will be the second largest in the city next to the MacKenzie branch, started in September last year. The new library will be more than double the size of its predecessor, Henderson said, and its prime location will make it a “hub for all kinds of public activity.”

Capital Construction 2007, a local company, has been charged with the task of building the new library. It was Yallowega Bélanger Architecture, also a local company, that designed it.

The $5-million project will house two floors, and it will be “zoned” for various age groups, Henderson said. On the bottom level, there will be separate spaces for children and teenagers. It's on this level where patrons will have direct access to an outdoor reading garden, fully sponsored by Xstrata through a $100,000 donation, although there will be a number of other access points outside. The project is currently out for tender.

The top level will be designed more for adult patrons with a “grand reading lounge,” Henderson said. An outdoor patio is included in the building's design, as is a coffee station, with perhaps a coffee chain setting up shop sometime in the future, Henderson added.

Energy-efficient lighting and heating systems are installed in all areas, with low-energy glass that will keep the heat in during the winter and the heat out during the summer.

“Modern” is the key word to describe the library, Henderson said. It will have all of the latest technologies available and enough space to double the size of its collection of books. About 30 per cent of the collection will be Francophone books, with ebooks in both French and English.

A dozen computers, several of which will be equipped with assistive-learning programs, with full Internet access will be placed within the confines of the library. Books will be available in regular print, large print and audio. There will also be a number of docking stations where patrons can plug in their electronics like iPods, MP3 players or other devices, and the library will have Wi-Fi capabilities throughout.

“Gone are the days when libraries are thought of as a place for quiet, where people are shushed by librarians when they get too loud,” Henderson said. “Libraries have evolved to community places, a gathering place for all age groups, and we want our patrons to think of this new library as a home.”

At the same time, it will respect the traditional library image with dedicated quiet spaces throughout the building. It's also fully accessible, with an elevator providing access to both levels.

“You don't build libraries like this every day,” Henderson said. “It is very architecturally pleasing, and its design will make it a building with prominence.”

That's important considering the new library is located on a major gateway into the city, Henderson added. The South End is one of the fastest-growing areas of the city, with about 30,000 vehicle trips per day on Regent Street, and it is anticipated that the new library will draw about 200,000 visits a year. One in six patrons will walk to the new location due to its central location, he added.

The original South branch library was constructed in 1973, and it moved several times over the years due to an increase in the demand for services. It quickly became “woefully” small, and at 6,000 square feet, wasn't able to accommodate the needs of all user groups, Henderson said.

Whether an infant or a senior, there will be something for everyone at the new library, Henderson said. The new facility will be inclusive and welcoming to all, regardless of age, religion or beliefs.

The South branch library will employ five full-time staff members, as well as a number of part-time staff.

Plans are taking shape for a grand opening ceremony, Henderson said.

Posted by Arron Pickard