
Our great wish during this anniversary year is to see a new central library facility built for Guelph. We know that many of you feel the same way. That's why we'd like to hear from you about what your new library should look like inside and out. Please send us your ideas, suggestions and perspectives. We cannot promise that all can be accommodated- but we can promise that they will all be considered. So whether it's a coffee shop in the entranceway, a soaring atrium, an outdoor reading garden, an expanded children's facility, comfortable chairs, more periodicals or increased space for coats and boots- we'd like to hear about it.
Please note that your name and email address will not be used for marketing or solicitation.
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Heather wrote,	Date:	August 26, 2010
Would love to see ample space and structure designated for bike lock-up, and bonus if it was a covered area. Bring the outdoors in with many green plants that require low maintenance. It would be great to see a courtyard w/ garden for either pleasure reading, or for an all-seasons program for visiting elementary school classes (eg. snow-themed books and outdoor activities in the winter, new life/growth books and observing in the garden in the spring...) Rooms that can be booked in and outside of reg library hours, for community events (eg. piano recitals to fund-raisers to heritage seed shows or guest speakers). Walls can display local artists work. We wish the library to be a place that has a cozy feel, with reading nooks, where patrons young and old can feel they have escaped to a place they can readily explore and settle comfortably to enjoy a book alone, or with family. :) Thanks
Kitty wrote,	Date:	August 13, 2010
It should be designed as a warm and welcoming place. A community cross roads that is flexible and environmentally green with excellent lighting and spaces that can be reconfigured over time as the needs of our community change. It should be functional for staff to supervise and maintain with flexable working spaces and an open information commons with public accesss computers. The new GPL main branch should be a community asset that is rich in local art, history and resources that define the Guelph community and what it means to be Canadian! Finally, the new GPL should be a space we can take great pride in, that celebrates the past and positions us to maxamize the opportunities of the future.
T W wrote,	Date:	August 10, 2010
I like the idea of a cafe, but on the outside of the library. I don't think that it should be a Starbucks, if you want Starbucks and books then go to Chapters!!! Maybe a new venture for With the Grain!!! Lots of natural light, a nice reading area, like maybe an indoor garden with a water fountain/feature...I know that the sound of running water always calms me when I am reading!!!
Anonymous wrote,	Date:	July 17, 2010
Please address accessibility issues in the new branch. These include not only features within the library itself but also getting to and from the library. These include: Parking meters on acessibility parking spots should have meters at wheelchair height Ample close by parking for those who have limited mobility (eg elderly, pregnant, those using canes or walkers who cannot walk a long distance to the library) Close to a bus stop for those who cannot walk long distances carrying books If you will be using a ramp to make an entrance accessible, keep in mind that some of the people using it will be people that just cannot do stairs. A very steep ramp can still be hard for an elderly person to climb. Don't require people to walk around a building to a single accessible entrance -- make all entrances accessible. A checkout/return counter at wheelchair height Access to elevators -- without asking staff. More library catalogues where people can sit down and/or get a wheelchair under the desk Acessible library computers (eg enlarged text display) Access to top shelves for books and magazines (perhaps a pull down feature?) Keep in mind people with canes or walkers as well as wheelchairs -- give them an option to open doors, etc when they are carrying books and have one hand on an assistive device Accessible washrooms on all levels of the building Accessible book drop Do you have a braille book section? If so, this should be laid out in such a way that will allow people that use those books to locate them easily (eg braille on ends of rows) Make sure that there is ample room between rows of books for people in wheelchairs and walkers to move about. This includes allowing people to pass each other. Flooring that has a softer impact -- this will help those with sore joints to walk around, and will lessen the impact if someone falls. Cork is environmentally friendly, soft to walk on, looks great, and is allergen-free. In short, you need to get an accessibility consult from someone who is fully qualified. As a side note, I would love to see the library have a green roof. It will help with utility costs and is great for the environment. It could even be turned into usable space. Plugs for laptops would be great as well. You could even make them metered to save the library some money.
Marian wrote,	Date:	July 4, 2010
The library should be well-lit (the use of skylights would bring in plenty of natural light); the use of computers and printing machines is a must-have so organizing a computer center is must. As well as several study rooms would be an ideal addition in a quiet area.

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Please note that your name and email address will not be used for marketing or solicitation.