Aurora Public Library undergoing $2.2M reno to become 'community living room'

Reno includes multi-purpose room, creative studio, living room-like seating areas

Yorkregion.com
October 3, 2018
Teresa Latchford

The $2.2-million Aurora Public Library renovation will create more flexible spaces patrons have been asking for.

Renovation crews will begin to settle into the Church Street site this week as they begin the early stages of the renovations, according to Aurora Public Library CEO Bruce Gorman. The project has been on the books since 2016, with the purpose of creating two new rooms, a multi-purpose room and a creative studio, that can be used for a variety of purposes.

“We want to make the spaces people want and want to use our space better,” Gorman said. “These flexible spaces can be a quiet study room one day and a maker space the next.”

The renovation will also include the creation of a living room in the main area of the library and an updated children’s area. Open retail-inspired display areas, enhanced lighting, a comfortable welcoming seating area, new workstations and improved service delivery are also on the to-do list.

“The existing rooms will remain as they are very well used at the library,” he said.

The vision is to move from more traditional spaces to people-focused spaces while providing flexibility, making the library a community living room, hub of learning and centre of culture and creativity, he added.

In 2015, the library undertook a facility needs assessment, which pointed to the library’s need to evolve to position itself as a community hub and offer patrons more collaborative spaces and technology.

The project began on Oct. 1 and will continue into January but the library will be open regular hours and patrons are welcome to visit, but should understand there may be times when the renovation work will be disruptive.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure these disruptions are minimal to those who are using the library,” he said. “Any work that needs to be completed and will create a major disruption will be done in off hours.”

For more information, visit Aurorapl.ca.