Milestones: The 100th Branch of the Toronto Public Library is Now Open

Congrats and kudos on the new branch to a wonderful public library system in a wonderful city.
Here’s some background, media coverage and new video released by TPL!
From the Official TPL Announcement:

Toronto Public Library is thrilled to announce that Scarborough Civic Centre branch, the city’s 100^th library branch, is now open.
City Librarian Vickery Bowles and Toronto Public Library Board Chair Ron Carinci formally opened the branch with a special ribbon cutting ceremony this morning. Library customers were led into the branch by Chinese lion dancers and enjoyed a morning of festive opening ceremonies and branch tours.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be opening Toronto Public Library’s 100^th branch in Scarborough,” said Vickery Bowles, City Librarian. “The branch is a beautiful, open space that combines the things we’ve come to expect from libraries – comfortable lounge and reading spaces, a wide variety of materials, knowledgeable staff – with a focus on flexible and collaborative spaces, as well as access to technology for all, that that will take us well into the 21^st century.”

Read the Complete Announcement (with Pictures)
The new branch includes:

• Digital Innovation Hub,
• KidsStop Interactive Early Literacy Centre,
• An outdoor reading garden

Learn About the Library’s “Green” Roof
Media Coverage
Toronto Public Library Opens 100th Branch in Scarborough (via Toronto Star)

With a big grin, the one-and-a-half-year-old climbed onto Katy Haralampidis’ lap in the children’s area of the new Scarborough Civic Centre location. Haralampidis said she brings her son to a library three to four times a week for story-time programs and reading sessions without the purchasing pressure of a bookstore and is thrilled to now have a branch around the corner.
“The library is our saviour,” she said.

Scarborough Civic Centre library branch opens (via InsideToronto)

“The library is your home away from home. It’s a space for everyone, a place where everyone’s welcome,” Anne Bailey, Toronto Public Libraries’ director of branch libraries said during a tour this week.

Scarborough Civic Centre Gets a Library (via Torontoist)
This article includes a large collection of photos.

As designed by LGA Architectural Partners, the branch is filled with natural light. Sightlines allow users to see both across the library and outside to the park across the road. A series of roof planes create a series of swooping layers supporting a green roof. Future exterior landscaping will include a reading garden under a grove of trees to the east and an open civic space to the west.
The TPL’s third Digital Innovation Hub is housed at the library, offering access to programs and 3D printing equipment similar to the labs offered at Fort York branch and the Toronto Reference Library. Future expansion of the digital technology program includes hubs at Agincourt and Fairview branches, as well the development of pop-up hubs elsewhere in the system.

MORE TO COME
Video

Building A Library – TPL Scarborough Civic Centre Branch from LGA architectural partners ltd. on Vimeo.

Filed under: Libraries, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries