It has been a little too long between blog posts and the topic of visiting libraries in new cities is a fun topic to get started on in 2024.
During the long summer break I did quite a lot of travelling. Flying first to St John’s, Newfoundland on the far east coast of Canada, I checked in on the state of local libraries which were under fire during one of my last visits there. In fact, during my visit in 2022 I even attended a rally to halt the proposed funding cuts to the already poorly funded provinicial libraries on the island. T
hat battle continued long after I left and they were successful. While there were a few closures, most libraries stayed open. I wish I had some photos to document the cleverly and lovingly cultivated collections and spaces which library staff maintain in these libraries.
The Marjorie Mews Public Library which has taken root in an old Mr Jim’s Pizza about 20 years ago is still going strong on the back of some very dedicated staff. As is the AC Hunter library attached to the Art and Culture Centre in the city. Most of the public libraries now maintain an internet presence only through Facebook. Web pages have folded and the provincial public library web page is hardly worth a mention. While funding is short and some access is limited, these libraries are not sad places. They are the last of dwindling public spaces on an island with a diminished population and limited economic opportunities and they are much loved by their users. It should be noted that there are no independent bookstores except for one second hand shop left in the capital city of St John’s (perhaps the whole province). These libraries are fighting a good fight.
From there, a flight to the epic city of Chicago with its notoriously grand and ambitious architecture. 2024 marks Chicago Public Libaries 150 year anniversary! You can imagine how massive an entity Chicago Public Libraries is! I visited the enormous Harold Washington Library Centre and went through the temporary exhibit about the libary’s namesake, Harold Washington. Washington was Chicago’s first Black mayor and a very motivated mayor. The fact that he achieved the funding to create this enormous building in the late 1980s is a testament to his prowess as mayor! As one would expect, this huge building (pictured below) has grand spaces within and, among other things, the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library which was bustling and absolutely expansive!
The acroteria on the exterior features owls and seed pods. The librarian in the children’s library was up for a chat and he confirmed the huge array of programs and spaces run across the library, including makerspaces and collections dedicated to the rich literary history of Chicago. The Winter Garden on the top floor is quite a space!
The original central public library was turned into a cultural centre in the late 70s which is still in use today. It is a thriving and gorgeous public space which still has the Tiffany glass domes and elaborate marble fixtures. The ground floor reading rooms are very much in use with all walks of life drifting in to warm up, read, write, enjoy the peace and beauty of the space. The space was opened in the late 1890s when Chicago was very much aware of itself as a city making big moves after the all important World’s Fair. I believe the Preston Bradley Hall has the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world. It is well worth the visit. I have photo, but this blog is looking like a total mess with the photos I have already attempted to add. What a mess!
The upshot of these visits, which continued in San Francisco, is a renewed hope in states to understand and value public libraries. That no matter the incredible changes to the information environment, the public needs support in accessing information and safe places to do so. It does not hurt if these places are beautiful, but opulence is not necessary. Doric columns, carved marble and Tiffany glass domes sure make an impact, but the lone librarian’s cardboard and tissue paper attempt at a fairy tale display has its own delight and says, “You are welcome here.”
