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Originally Posted by DizzyEdge
Considering this may very well be our last central library I hope it's really good
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Originally Posted by *Stardust*
What does that mean? You mean in our lifetime?
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Originally Posted by DizzyEdge
I suspect there will not be another central building built to hold physical library books.
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Libraries build in the past decade have focused on workspace more than books. I don't expect this one to be any different.
IMO, there will always be a need for libraries - although the purpose has evolved. The institution has changed form to become more democratized, both in the sense that access has improved and in the sense that libraries have become an important institution in democracy, especially in the UK and America thanks to philanthropists and thinkers like Carnegie and Dewey. The library on 12th Ave and 2nd St SW is a Carnegie Library. For the past century, libraries have stood for equality and opportunity. I don't think that will change. The presence of books is not so important as a safe and quiet space to work/study independently, meet with groups, and share ideas via lectures. As Calgary trends towards smaller living spaces, increased gender equality, increased immigration, more population in the core, later ages to start families, and becomes a larger intellectual and cultural centre, a central library becomes all the more significant. I hope that these trends only continue for the next century.
This new library, however, will likely carry significance that is novel (haha) to Calgary. In particular, like many national libraries, this library will inevitably make a statement about our identity and values as a place that former libraries and peripheral branches cannot achieve. For that reason, I'm hoping for something with architectural shelf-life (haha-ha). Physically, redeveloping this challenging site could have a significant affect on the feel of the inner city.