Urban Oases of Victoria - Library Square
When I think about an urban oasis, they should be a place where we can duck out of the busyness of the city around us. There might be no truer example of this than the library square in downtown Victoria.
True to form for a quiet escape from the city, it is not even very obvious that it’s there. The library square sits in the middle of an office block shared between the the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch and various government offices. There are two pedestrian access points into the square, the main one from Broughton Street and another almost grander secondary one off of Blanshard and Courtney Streets. The key is that it’s not obvious that there is anything special to see and most wouldn’t venture in unless you were on your way to the library or work. Entering off of Brougton, you go through almost a tunnel, the kind that only buildings built in the 1980’s would have and it isn’t until the last moment that you realise that you are in an amazing atrium.
There is an almost cathedral feeling to the library atrium. This is due in part due to the mosaic-like windows across the ceiling that are about five storeys above you. The main reason for the similar sense of your gaze soaring skyward, is the amazing sculpture that sits in the middle of the atrium. Unfortunately, the name doesn’t compare to the feeling it gives you. The underwhelmingly named Dynamic Mobile Steel Sculpture is one of the most beautiful pieces of public art in the city and I would bet that many have never even seen it in person. This piece of art was created by George Norris who is likely most known for the steel crab in front of the Planetarium in Vancouver. One aspect of the sculpture that many are not aware of is that the ‘mobile’ part of the name is meant literally and that in proper order the sculpture turns slowly on its axis. In the 25+ years that I have lived here, I have only seen it turn a couple of times and that was when some significant effort had been put in to get it going. Still even it its stationary position, it is a dramatic piece.
Surrounding the base of the sculpture and the corners of the atrium are various different seating areas. When I visited the space recently, it was quiet in there and expect that at the height of the pandemic it was even quieter which hides another wonderful aspect of the space which is the acoustics. When you are there on a regular day the space is overly quiet, like wearing noise cancelling headphones, but just like headphones this can be turned around and used to amplify music. In the past you could often sit and enjoy a busker filling the space with music while you paused before entering the library.
As I said earlier, there is a secondary entrance to the square from the east at Blanshard and Courtney and in some ways this would seem to be the main entrance as it is a larger, grander space, but it is clearly the back door. First of all, this leads out and away from downtown to the Courthouse and towards Fairfield. The outside space does have picnic tables and benches though so it is an extra-urban oasis particularly in the summer months.
The main reason that anyone comes through either space, unless they work in the buildings, is to go to the library. The Central Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library has been here since 1980 (Edited from 1990 thanks to two astute readers) when it was moved here temporarily from the previous location at Yates and Blanshard. Most will know the old location as it’s a grand old Carnegie library, like those that dot cities across North America. The library had been at that previous location since 1906. There have been many conversations over the last 40 years about finding a new permanent home for the library or perhaps just improving the space it is in. The latest discussion took place just last year and you can read about it here. In that article the author says that at least another 17000 sqft. is needed and I would agree that the current one is small, but I am not sure a new location is needed. I am sure that there may be an opportunity to take back some of the space in the current office building and turn it over to the library if the work from home ethos continues beyond the pandemic. I like the current location and I think that if there was some emphasis on it being the main branch, it could work, but you do get that temporary feel to it. I should mention that the library is open now again for people to go in and spend some time with the books. Inside any library is also a great way to have a real getaway from the city and really in Victoria there are not a lot of real library experiences to be had. I find some of the satellite locations a little underwhelming. I would suppose that the Mcpherson Library at Uvic is the other and perhaps, most amazing library experience in the city. (A side note the McPherson library also has a connection to George Norris, the giant plinths along its facade were one of his first big installations.)
If the library were to stay in this location I would want to see a few changes to the space apart from just making the inside larger. I think that some consideration should be given to creating a commercial space that could attract a coffee shop. There are good coffee shops nearby with Discovery and Bean Bandits, but a new space could be a real attraction for people that may linger in the square rather than just pass through. I would also like to see some improved seating with perhaps some bistro chairs and tables in addition to the benches. In the square to the east I would commission a new art piece as a focal point and perhaps start using this space more for public gatherings in the summer. It truly is an underused property, especially given its size.
No matter what happens in the future though, if you haven’t been to Library Square recently and are trying to find a place for a little quiet reflection, head down there and see it what it currently has to offer. Let me know what you think of the library square as it is and what you would hope for a library of the future in Victoria!
