Art in the Library

In partnership with the Varley Art Gallery, Angus Glen showcases the works of York Region artist Bruce Smith, who died in 2005, and left behind a valuable record of York Region's vanishing agrarian landscape. The Library also hosts occasional exhibits of art by local artists.

Computer Lab

Angus Glen provides a computer training room designed for the development of digital literacy -computer concepts and skills so that people can use computer technology in everyday life to develop new social and economic opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Library offers a wide range of computer programs for all ages. The Computer Lab is also available for rentals.

http://www.markham.ca/mpl/ag.htm

Wireless

While Angus Glen was under construction, wireless networks in public libraries moved from being just a future possibility to becoming a service feature that Markham residents wanted and expected. So a few weeks after opening, Markham's IT staff had MPL's first public wireless data network up and running at Angus Glen.
Markham Public Library now provides wireless access at all its larger branches. Free Wireless Internet service gives customers with laptops, PDAs or other mobile devices the ability to move anywhere in the library and stay connected to the digital world - including the Library's virtual services.
http://www.markham.ca/mpl/wifi_faqs.htm

Architect - Shore Tilbe Irwin Partners

The architect for the Angus Glen Library (& Community Centre) was Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners, Architects, one of Canada's leading architectural practices in library design. The architect brought to the project an experienced understanding of the functions and activities of public libraries, and responded positively and enthusiastically to our vision for Angus Glen, developing a design that fully realized our vision and our building program. The Angus Glen Library exceeded customer expectations, while also being highly functional and operationally efficient.
http://www.stipartners.com/

Merchandizing

Angus Glen introduced the merchandizing of library collections to Markham. Through retail-type displays on mobile units, slatwall and endcaps, Angus makes it easier and more convenient for customers to find and connect with the things they need.

Mobile merchanizing units were designed by project architect Shore Tilbe Irwin Partners.

Family Spaces for Early Literacy Development

Library design can play a critical role in providing space for interactive early literacy development children and their caregivers. Research shows that brain development in the first three years of life predicts how a child will do academically in later life. The Kids Space at Angus Glen is designed to help families ensure their young children enter school ready to learn by exposing them to reading and sensory stimulation at the earliest age possible through books, media and developmental toys.

Kids - Learning Through Play

At Angus Glen Library, we began to transform our concept of library space for children. Through our building program, we developed the concept of the "information playground", where children can feel welcome, safe, comfortable, respected and special. The Kids Area at Angus Glen expresses our belief that libraries should provide opportunities for children to explore ideas, develop skills and to learn in a fun, enriching environment, where noisy activity is expected and encouraged. No more shushing.

If you build it, they will come

When we opened the Angus Glen Library in December 2004, we weren't sure what to expect. How many people would come? How busy would it be? Would we have enough books? Within a few days of quietly opening our doors, we had our answer - customer visits more than doubling our projections, and long lineups for self-service checkout.

Behind the Scenes

Items returned by customers at the Self-Service Material Return kiosk are conveyed into the workroom, where they are scanned and immediately checkedin. The sorting machine in the workroom then sorts the items into bins. Staff then move returned items from the bins to bookcarts for immediate shelving. By automating checkin and pre-sorting for the thousands of items that flow into the workroom every week, we are able to keep pace with growth in material flow and avoid the backlogs that slowed service in the past.

Self-Service Checkout

Angus Glen has 4 self-service checkout stations. The concept of using technology to "harness the power of the customer" came to us from consultant Cate McNeely of the Richmond Public Library (B.C.). Customer benefits include faster, more convenient checkout service, and greater privacy for their borrowing transcations. Operational benefits include cost-effectiveness in terms of managing increasing material flow, reduced ergonomic impacts for staff, and improved customer service due to increased staff availability for direct service (rather than material-handling).

Self-Service Material Return Checkin

Just outside the Library entrance doors, the Self-Service Material Return Checkin kiosk enables customers to independently return library materials without staff assistance. No waiting - materials are immediately checked in. The kiosk provides a printed receipt listing all materials returned.

Atrium

Viewed from the upper level, the Atrium sees hundreds of people coming and going every day.

Fireplace Lounge

On the upper level, the comfortable seating area round the Fireplace provides a great space for bookclub meetings, musical performances, and other special events.

Atrium

Comfortable seating in the entrance Atrium - for relaxing while browsing, reading the newspaper, or waiting for family members.

Couch and Lounge Chairs: Casablanca, by Louis Interiors

Atrium

The Atrium provides the "wow" effect for customers entering the Library. The soaring overhead space, the wooden beams, the sunlight streaming in from above - all combine to lift the spirits and make the Library visit something to remember. At the same time, the Atrium's central open space makes the Library instantly legible in terms of wayfinding and visibility.

Study Chairs: Rapture, made by KI

Terrace

The upper-level Terrace provides an opportunity to read and relax outdoors on sunny days.

Chairs: Saville Stacking Arm Chair from Hauser

Children's Computers

Chairs: Caper, made by Herman Miller

A Chair with a View

Angus Glen enjoys great views from the upper level windows. To the west, "ribbon" gardens climb the hillside. To the east, the trees and grass of the Angus Glen golf course provide a wide green vista. Inside the Library, our window walls are lined with lounge chairs and study carrels for customers' viewing pleasure.

Lounge Chairs: Baxter, made by Krug

http://www.krug.ca/products/soft/baxter/baxter.htm

Study Rooms

In addition to study tables and carrels distributed all over the branch, Angus Glen has 9 very popular study rooms. The decision to create separate study rooms marked a shift in our strategy regarding noise management. For the most part, our older branches were designed as large open spaces with no acoustic separation between their functional spaces. This meant that noise in the children's area was carried far and wide into every corner of public space, including study areas. As a result, staff spent a lot of time dealing with noise complaints, and trying to balance the service needs of customers engaged in study and research with those who increasingly tended to use libraries as social gathering places and for active children's learning. By providing study rooms, we can better support this balance and provide spaces that are appropriate for a range of learning styles, from quiet individual study to noisy group learning experiences.

GOOD DESIGN IS GOOD BUSINESS Award

May 2006 - Selected from a field of 167 submissions, an OAA jury awarded Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners the GOOD DESIGN IS GOOD BUSINESS Award for the Angus Glen Community Centre and Library. The GOOD DESIGN IS GOOD BUSINESS Award recognizes successful projects that have creatively achieved the business and architectural goals of the client and architect through effective collaboration and innovation.
"The OAA jury concluded that the Community Centre and Library fostered social interaction and sociological as well as psychological benefits, providing a crucial element in forming a sense of community and helping to develop a sense of identity."
http://www.oaa.on.ca/client/oaa/OAAHome.nsf/web/2006+Award+Winners?OpenDocument

Teen Area

Tangerine Chairs from Arconas

http://arconas.com/index.html

Southeast Entrance

Southeast entrance to Community Centre and Library. Just the left of the glass entrance doors is our shipping/receiving entrance, then an emergency exit door, and then a material return area, for convenient drive-by material return dropoffs.