Millennium Library (Winnipeg)

Winnipeg's Millennium Library
Interior reading terrace

The Millennium Library is the main branch of the Winnipeg Public Library located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was known as the Centennial Library from 1977 until 2005. The library is located at 251 Donald St, and serves approximately 5,000 visitors each day.[1]

The four storey, 17,600-square-metre (189,000 sq ft)[2] library boasts a Local History Room, public art, information displays, a grand staircase, as well as access to the Winnipeg Walkway system. The Human Bean Coffee & Tea and the Best of Friends Gift Shop are also situated within the building.[1]

History

The library was opened in 1977 as the Centennial Library. The library opened to the public on 16 March 1977, and the official opening took place on 4 May 1977. [3]

Started in 2003[4] and completed in 2005, the $21 million[5] redevelopment of Winnipeg's main library branch involved the addition of 3,700 square metres (40,000 sq ft) of new space, construction of a new fourth floor and renovations throughout the existing 10,000-square-metre (110,000 sq ft) library.[2] The library now features a new Reading Terrace with a four storey high solar glass wall, positioned alongside a new grand staircase, along with two new glass elevators,[2] and a passive solar wall on the southeast face of the building.[4] The Millennium Library opened on November 8, 2005[6] after $18 million of renovations were constructed over a two-year period. The work was completed a year late and $4 million over budget.[5]

In 2013, Toronto-Dominion Bank presented a $150,000 gift to be used towards renovations of Millennium Library’s TD New and Noted area. The renovations will include open-concept space, as well as direct access to Millennium Library Park.[7]

First Floor

Memberships, Checkin, Returns, Holds, Checkout, Self-Checkout, Children's Services, Teen Central, Aboriginal Reading-in-the-Round, Includes New & Noted, Adult Fiction, New Fiction and Non-Fiction, Express Bestsellers, Paperbacks, Magazines, Express Computers, Winnipeg Transit Kiosk, Security desk.[8][9][10][11]

Second Floor

DVDs, CDs, Talking Books, Books on CD & Cassette, Large Print, Biographies, Scores, Services for People with Special Needs, Carol Shields Auditorium, Buchwald Room, Anhang Room, Meeting Room 1, Meeting Room 2, Tutorial Room A, Tutorial Room B.[12][13]

Third Floor

Millennium Library Local History Room (Resources on Winnipeg and Manitoba history, Henderson Directories), Computer Training Lab, Newspapers, Reference Magazines, Microfilm, Vertical Files, Stack Reference, Copiers.[11][12][14]

Fourth Floor

Non-fiction (000-999), Reference Collection, Government Documents, Computers, Meeting Room 3.[12][15]

Millennium Library Park

Finished 2012, the park alongside the Millennium Library underwent a $4.3-million reconstruction. The rebuilt plaza has an artificial wetland aerated by a pair of windmills, a wooden walkway built out of sustainably farmed wood, birch trees planted in deep pots, two new pieces of public art, and low fences and a raised floor.[5]

The park now features five distinct outdoor zones:[16]

When the Millennium Library reopened, there was no money left in the budget to rebuild the park.[5]

Work on the park could not commence until a membrane was built over the parkade below it. Rebuilding the plaza itself was funded equally by all three levels of government. The Winnipeg Arts Council arranged financing for the two pieces of public art: Sentinel Of Truth and emptyful.[5]

Reconstruction Costs:[5]

The redevelopment plan was spearheaded by the Winnipeg Library Foundation.[17]

Public Art

The following public art installations are viewable in and around the Millennium Library.[11]

"emptyful", the erlenmeyer flask-shaped fountain, is the most expensive piece of public art in Winnipeg history. It is illuminated by four bands of LED lights at night and uses both water and fog. During the summer, when the fog and water elements will be operational, the fountain is illuminated in blue, green and purples hues. During the winter, when the water elements are not operational, the artwork is lit up with reds, oranges and yellows.[5]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Millennium Library (Winnipeg).

References

  1. 1 2 "Millennium Library". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Winnipeg Millennium Library". LM Architectural Group. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "251 Donald Street - Centennial & Millennium Library Park". Winnipeg Downtown Places. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Millennium Library Opening". Winnipeg Library Foundation. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kives, Bartley (21 July 2012). "Library park's opening better late than never". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  6. ↑ Romaniuk, Ross (November 8, 2005). "Library 'wonderful': Bigger, better facility opens today". The Winnipeg Sun.
  7. ↑ "TD presents $150,000 gift to support new expansion at Millennium Library in Winnipeg". City of Winnipeg. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Millennium Library Children's Services & Teen Central". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Millennium Library Circulation Services". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Millennium Library Reader Services". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 "Millennium Library". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Meeting Rooms". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Millennium Library Special Services". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Millennium Library Local History Room". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Millennium Library Information Services". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Millennium Library Park". Winnipeg Library Foundation. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  17. ↑ Parsons, Lauren (20 July 2012). "Millennium Library Park opens to public in downtown Winnipeg". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "emptyful". Winnipeg Arts Council. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "Sentinel of Truth". Winnipeg Arts Council. Retrieved 10 August 2012.

Coordinates: 49°53′31″N 97°08′31″W / 49.892°N 97.142°W / 49.892; -97.142

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