Downtown library’s temporary home earns glowing reviews for atmosphere
The doors swung open at 9 a.m. Monday to a line of people waiting to experience the new temporary home of the Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library.
The light-filled, roomy and well-organized space with a touch of gritty, urban feel was abuzz later in the morning as visitors walked with arms full of books or stared intently into one the computer screens located in the centre of the large public space.
Others chatted quietly over a cup of coffee or wandered about taking in the new surroundings on the lower level of the Paul Martin Building at 185 Ouellette Ave.
“I like it,” said Don Ruston, as he sat at one of several tables set up around the 11,000-square-foot room. “It’s nice, well-organized — nice and neat and clean and bright.”
Ruston, a retired downtown resident, said he’s at the library every day doing research, browsing the Windsor Star or finding interesting books.
“Usually I read here,” he said. “I like the atmosphere. And if you’ve got a question, you can ask somebody.”
Library chief executive Kitty Pope greeted the eager visitors and showed them around.
“We opened the doors at 9 o’clock hoping that there would be folks here — well, there were folks lined up at quarter to nine,” Pope said.
Janet Bashura said she has visited the public library all her life.
“I’m impressed and thrilled to know that it’s available for us still downtown because it’s so necessary,” Bashura said. “I believe in the importance of early reading and access to all the materials that the library provides.”
To any naysayers unhappy about the library’s move from its former location several blocks south at 850 Ouellette Ave., she said, “I think we just have to continue evolving and making the best of every situation and to me this is really lovely. I’m pleasantly surprised.”
Bashura said she appreciates “all the light that I see coming in and the brightness of it all,” as well the nearby parking.
A knee injury has limited her mobility.
The entrance to the Central Branch is at the rear of the Paul Martin Building, accessible from Pitt or Ferry streets.
Ward 3 Coun. Rino Bortolin, who also serves as chairman of the library board, said the plan is to improve the esthetics of the entrance with planters and more signage and perhaps some murals. But he loves the urban vibe of the new location.
“When you look out the windows, seeing the old brick of the buildings ... it’s a fantastic feel down here,” Bortolin said. “I hope people give it a chance and ... come and share in the space.”
Visitor Dale (Brady) Baylis said he would have preferred the library branch moved temporarily into the former Windsor Arena or the Art Gallery but he said he was warming up to the new downtown location.
“I guess this location’s pretty central ’cause it’s right downtown and pretty close to everything downtown,” he said as he was touring the new site on Monday. “I guess it’s a lot better than I thought it would be. I thought it would be cramped.
“I went to the old library right from the time it opened in ’73 and the old library was really good and this one seems to be more than adequate for a temporary library.”
Baylis said he visits the library every day to use the branch’s computers. “I get my information from here because I don’t have a personal computer,” he said.
“It’s a great resource for me and probably for other people like me.”
Bortolin said he expects the Central Branch to be housed in the Paul Martin Building for at least three to five years as the board begins planning for a permanent location. But, he said, “everything is on the table.”
He praised library staff for their efficiency and dedication.
“The fact that we didn’t lose a single day of service downtown — (we) closed 850 (Ouellette Ave.) on Sunday and opened the new space Monday morning,” he said. “I think the staff have done an amazing job. It looks great.”