I've always been somebody who enjoyed checking out the libraries in towns and cities I've visited across Canada and around the world. Whether it's a public, academic or other type of library, it's always interesting to see the different designs, layouts and atmospheres they each manage to create.
The idea of library tourism was on my mind today as I went out for my first “van run”, along with SERL's (Southeast Regional Library) driver who makes a trip that covers approximately 10 of our 50 libraries each day to distribute and redistribute books. Even seeing the different approaches that ten or so libraries in various towns and villages around SE Saskatchewan take towards making their libraries inviting and targeted to their community was a very enjoyable experience. All have similarities but yet manage to be distinctly different as well.
I think it was asked as one of the “Roll Call” questions we did in our cohort listserv (and maybe once in the comments of this blog) so I'll ask it again here on the front page – what is your favourite library of any you've visited and why?
I've got a few but at the time I picked (and would likely still pick) the Crowfoot Crossing branch that had opened in Calgary in 2004. It's got a special place in my heart because a local Calgary librarian and writer invited me to come with her to the opening as her “community rep” and also because I got to hear the amazing library advocate, Alberta Lt. Governor Lois Hole speak for the first time (and as I've discussed before, it's no surprise that she's part of the Saskatchewan Mafia!)
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