WINNIPEG, MB - July 12, 2012 - In 2015, the Cornish and St. John’s Libraries will celebrate their 100th anniversaries of library service to the community. In anticipation of this milestone, the Winnipeg Public Library is undertaking a review of these two Carnegie libraries to help determine how they can be made more accessible and be renovated to better address the needs of today’s library users.
Cornish Library (20 West Gate) and St. John’s Library (500 Salter Street) are hosting public open houses for feedback on proposed plans that include improved building accessibility, new floor plans for the location of services and collections, and improved spaces for community use while maintaining the buildings’ key heritage features.
The final facility plans will help determine the potential cost of the renovation project and assist the Winnipeg Library Foundation in their fundraising support of the project.
The public are asked to attend the open houses and provide their input on initial, proposed plans. Public feedback will be used to create accessible and dynamic modern community spaces within these heritage buildings. Staff will be on site to answer questions and gather public feedback.
Proposed plans and feedback forms will also be available at both libraries for two weeks following the open houses.
St. John’s Library open house:
Tuesday, July 24 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Win Gardner Place, 363 McGregor Street
Cornish Library open house:
Thursday, July 26 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mulvey School, 750 Wolseley
Library Background: The Cornish Library and St. John’s Library are historic Carnegie Foundation libraries. American Andrew Carnegie rose from humble beginnings to become a wealthy industrialist and philanthropist. His philanthropy included the building of over 2,500 libraries, 124 of which were in Canada. Of these, only 13 were located outside of Ontario with three of these in Winnipeg. These three libraries were Winnipeg’s first public libraries â�" the Cornish, St. John’s and William Avenue libraries (the latter is now home of the City of Winnipeg archives).