Wednesday March 30, 2022 | ESQUIMALT, BC
Posted by Island Social Trends
The wait is almost over for library lovers in the Esquimalt area with Greater Victoria Public Library’s (GVPL) relocated Esquimalt branch set to open its doors this week. After months of planning and construction, the new library, which is located inside the Esquimalt Town Square development at #101-503 Park Place, will open on Thursday, March 31 at 10 am.
Replacing the branch that had been located in the Esquimalt Municipal Hall, the new library is a true community living room with a modern design and décor. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, visitors will be immediately struck by the dramatic design features of the space, including soaring ceilings, exposed natural wood beams, concrete floors, and a calming colour palette inspired by the surrounding landscape.
Mayor, board and CEO:
“Libraries are more than a place to borrow books, they are the hub of any community, and we are so thrilled to welcome you into this new space. It’s bright, airy, and will be a place for neighbours of all ages to gather for years to come,” said Barb Desjardins, Mayor of the Township of Esquimalt.
“This is an exciting day, and we are grateful to the Township of Esquimalt for making this space available for library users,” said GVPL Board Chair, Andy MacKinnon.
GVPL CEO Maureen Sawa said she is thrilled to welcome the community into the beautiful new space. “We are especially proud of the children’s area, which has been thoughtfully designed to encourage discovery and safe play of children who are crawling, learning to walk, and interacting with the space. The space is anchored by an interactive learning play structure that was purchased with funds from the Friends of the Library. The Play and Learn Pod will allow children aged 5 years and younger to develop and practice early literacy skills through play.”
Range of services:
“With dedicated areas for children and teens, comfortable reading areas, public computers with printing, bookable study rooms, flexible program space, and Wi-Fi throughout the branch, this is truly a flexible and inclusive space that will both inform and inspire the community,” added Sawa.
The library’s collection features the latest fiction and non-fiction books for adults, youth, and children, as well as mystery, romance, and other fiction genres. Audiobooks and music on CD, feature films and tv series on DVD and Blu-ray, video games, and newspapers and magazines are also available.
The branch also features resources that are staples of GVPL’s system-wide collections, including large print books and an Indigenous Reads display.
Innovative floor plan:
Surrounded by a vibrant town centre and open-air gallery and public art walk, the branch has an innovative floor plan that can accommodate both quiet and lively activity due to a custom-built ceiling system that reduces noise by absorbing sound.
Digital media lab:
The library is also home to GVPL’s Digital Media Lab. This specialized creative space, which is being introduced in three phases, will provide library users will access to a range of tools that enable digital creativity, collaboration, and storytelling.
The Digital Media Lab is partially funded by the Victoria Foundation and the Friends of the Library.
The first phase of the space is geared toward younger patrons, providing a range of discovery and STEM-based activities that encourage learning through play and technology.
Library design:
Designed by D’AMBROSIO architecture + urbanism and developed by Aragon Properties, the library boasts several sustainability enhancements to help ensure its operations minimize environmental impacts, including a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Grand opening in May:
To celebrate the opening, while supplies last, GVPL is giving away a small gift each day for the next five days, with items ranging from branded sugar cookies to collector buttons.
Grand opening celebrations are being planned for May and further details will be provided as they become available. For more information on the Esquimalt Library, see www.gvpl.ca.
