Thursday, July 23, 2009

70% + more!


Things are very exciting here this week as a lot of things move forward all at once!
- We've now hit 70% of our fundraising goal - thanks to everyone who has already made their gift! If you haven't donated yet then please go to the Branching Out campaign website at www.branchingoutbpl.ca and donate now.
- tonight is an Open House with the project architects: an opportunity for them to meet our community and gather public input on the design of this branch library
- and today the "future home" sign went up on the site selected for the first branch library in Barrie. See the photo!

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be Branching Out for our community!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Field trip

This past week the Branch Library Project Team took a field trip to search out ideas we might want to incorporate into Barrie's first branch library. Library staff, City staff and ZAS Architects visited various libraries in Ontario and came back with some great "nice to haves" and some definite "don't wants".

We're also all looking forward to the public Open House on Thursday, July 23rd from 7pm – 9pm at the South Shore Community Centre. The Open House will introduce the architectural firm, ZAS Architects, and acquire preliminary feedback from the public to move forward with the architectural concept and design stage of the project.

Evereyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our Community

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Architects named!

What exciting news this week!
Everybody here at Barrie Public Library (BPL) knows we've moved a step closer toward the creation of a new library branch in Barrie’s south end with the naming of ZAS Architects as the architecture firm for the project.

Paul Stevens, principal architect with ZAS, told me that his company believes "libraries are one of the key building blocks of creating vibrant, sustainable communities”, and that "this project points to a bright future for library users in Barrie". He also said that they are absolutely delighted to be working with Barrie Public Library and the City of Barrie on the design of the new Painswick Branch. In turn, the Branch Library project team are pleased to be working with a company that has such a great view of libraries.

ZAS Architects has been responsible for numerous high-profile public projects across the country and around the world, including several libraries. The firm was recently acknowledged by the Ontario Library Association for its work on the St. James Town Public Library in Toronto. Catherine Virgo, Chair of the Board of Trustees here at BPL, is confident that by working with ZAS and consulting with local residents, we will create a modern, welcoming library space that will make our library services accessible to more Barrie residents than ever before.

To help achieve this an Open House is scheduled on Thursday, July 23rd from 7pm – 9pm at the South Shore Community Centre, 205 Lakeshore Drive, to introduce the architectural firm heading up the project and acquire preliminary feedback from the public to move forward with the architectural concept and design stage of the project. We hope to see you there!

We're so excited to be ... Branching Out for our Community