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Millennium
Library -- Grand Opening November 8
 The
Millennium Library opened to the public at 10:00
a.m. on Tuesday, November 8. The downtown branch of Winnipeg
Public Library has been the focus of a major construction
and renovation project since November of 2003. Large crowds
were on hand for the Official Grand Opening Ceremony, which
featured a formal program complete with entertainment by
children’s entertainer Fred Penner with the
Sister MacNamara School Choir (below).
 The
award-winning Millennium Library redesign combines 40,000
sq. ft. of new construction and a complete renovation of
the existing structure into a 180,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art
facility. Along with more public access computers and improved
computer training facilities, the Library includes expanded
collections of print and non-print materials that will benefit
all library users throughout the city.
The architects
for the project, Patkau Architects and LM Architectural
Group, have created a signature library building in the
heart of Winnipeg’s downtown community, and Winnipeg
citizens and media (above) couldn't wait to visit!
The design has incorporated “green building”
concepts, including a passive solar wall on the southeast
face of the building, and universal design principles to
enhance accessibility for all users. The new library is
a rejuvenated facility that combines improvements to the
infrastructure with a significant investment in furniture,
shelving and equipment to create a more welcoming library
environment.
| Karen
Keppler and Dee Buchwald,
Co-Chairs of the Winnipeg Library Foundation tell the
story of their ten year journey to make the Millennium
Library a reality. |
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The Library also
features new services such as Teen Central, a welcoming
place that the city’s youth can call their own, and
the Aboriginal Reading-in-the-Round where indigenous culture
is recognized and children of all backgrounds are welcome
to explore. Other new services include New & Noted,
an area that serves as a one-stop shop for the latest bestsellers
and new fiction and non-fiction books, and a Local History
Room, where staff assist customers with research on the
history of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba, as well
as local genealogical resources. It is anticipated that
attendance at the new Millennium Library will surpass more
than one million visitors within the first year!
The Millennium
Library Project is a $20.7 million public-private partnership
of the City of Winnipeg, the Government of Canada and the
Province of Manitoba through the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure
program together with the private sector through the Winnipeg
Library Foundation.
(Below,
dignitaries open the Library with a ribbon-cutting.)
ARIANA
ROZKOWIEC is a Grade 4 student. She represented the
youth of our city at the Gala Reception for the Millennium
Library Grand Opening. Her speech (below) was touching
and heartfelt.
 Ariana,
shown here with architects John Patkau, Patkau Architects
(left) and David Kressoch (right) LM Architectural
Group.
"Good
evening ladies, gentlemen and honoured guests.
"My
name is Ariana Rozkowiec. I am in Grade Four at Ecole
Crane.
"Every
in-service day, I go to my Mom’s work with her.
I try to be very good at my Mom’s work because
I know at 3 o’clock, if my Mom is happy with
me, she will take me to the library. I love going
there! The library is your passport to go to different
places in the world. You get to learn about interesting
people, travel through history and pretend to be a
princess in a far away land.
"On
one in-service day, after I was being the best I could
be at my Mom’s work, my Mom told me we can’t
go to the library because it was being renovated.
… I was very disappointed!!! For the last year,
the in-service days were not really that exciting.
"On
one rainy day, this last September, my mom gave me
the best news! She said the library was going to open
in less than two months! I ran to the fridge to look
at my school calendar, to see how many in-service
days there are. There are lots. I think my Mom owes
me a whole years worth of in-service days that I missed
last year. I’d like to spend them all here at
the Millennium Library.
"When
I was asked to talk about my library, I couldn’t
be happier to talk about my favourite place. I know
I’m not the only one who loves the library,
I’m just the luckiest!
"This
is by far the coolest place on Earth!!
"Thank you!" |
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