Ansley Grove Library‘s renovation is well underway. The library will re-open on March 26 at 1 p.m. and we would like to invite everyone to join us for cake and refreshments in celebration of this exciting time.
Check out a few pictures of the renovation in action. Come to the library and see the finished look yourself on March 26!
The Ansley Grove Library, located at 350 Ansley Grove Road will be closed for renovations from March 17 to 25, and will reopen on March 26 at 1 p.m.
The renovations include amalgamating the two Service Desks into one, moving the self check out station to a prominent location, replacing the old carpet with a new one and adding new furniture for better display of library materials for customer convenience.
During the closure, customers may return library materials to any branch of Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL). The closest branch is Pierre Berton Resource Library located at 4921 Rutherford Road. Customers may also renew their items online at www.vaughanpl.info. Holds can be picked up at Pierre Berton Resource Library or deactivated online by accessing your library account. For assistance on how to deactivate your holds, please contact the Service Desk.
Funding for this project is supported by the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund and The City of Vaughan.
Great news! Construction has begun on Pleasant Ridge Library! The hoarding fence is up, the construction trailer is on site and the big digging machines are at work.
The new library will be located north of the existing North Thornhill Community Centre building in an area bounded by the existing tennis courts to the west, existing parking lot to the north and east, and the existing community centre building to the south.
We will keep you up to date on the progress.
Woodbridge Library has had an elevator since the opening of the building in 1981. Recently, we had all of the workings of the elevator replaced with new, state of the art equipment, which ensures that the elevator continues to run smoothly. The motor, safety, and operating system have been fully upgraded. While the cab of the elevator appears mostly unchanged, everything behind the scenes has been completely replaced, and customers will notice new operating buttons, a new floor display screen, and a much smoother trip between floors of the Woodbridge Library building.
Check out the before and after photos below.
Operating buttons - before
Operating buttons - after
Floor display - before
Floor display - after
Floor display outside - new
Members of the Vaughan Public Library Board, Mayor and Members of Council were in attendance for the site dedication for Vaughan Public Libraries’ (VPL) new Pleasant Ridge Library, Sunday, Dec. 8. The new 8,500 square foot neighbourhood library will be built as an addition to the North Thornhill Community Centre. A community meeting followed providing residents with an opportunity to view the proposed design.
Construction of the new library is expected to begin in the spring of 2014 and be completed by fall.
(From L to R) Gary McCluskie, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Marlon Kallideen, Commissioner, City of Vaughan, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, VPL Board Chair, Michael McKenzie, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Luciano Di Giuiseppe, Project Manager, Maystar General Contractors, Maya Goldenberg, President, former Thornhill Woods Community Association, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan, Joe Maio, President, Maystar General Contractors, VPL Board Trustee Pradeep Puri, VPL Board Trustee Steve Kerwin, Ward 3 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Rosanna DeFrancesca and VPL Board Trustee Lorraine de Boer were on-site to dedicate the north entrance area of the North Thornhill Community Centre as the site of the future home of VPL’s Pleasant Ridge Library.
Master of Ceremonies - VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie
Master of Ceremonies - VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
Architect's rendering (exterior view): the spectacular yet tasteful design of the new Pleasant Ridge Library will focus on creating a welcoming destination that uses an abundance of natural light and glass, and features a barrier-free space that is flexible and adaptable. The library will transition seamlessly from the community centre, yet will become a focal point of the community.
The new library will be located north of the existing community centre building in an area bounded by the existing tennis courts to the west, existing parking lot to the north and east, and the existing community centre building to the south.
Actual view of where the library will be in relation to the community centre
Architect's rendering (reading area): the light-filled reading area is located along the windows of the library. The added ceiling height provides the area with extra volume and light, while the warm colours help to create a great ambiance for reading or interacting with others.
Architect's rendering (night view): at night, the light and transparency of the library will continue to make it a focal point of the community.
VPL CEO Margie Singleton presents at community meeting
Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) is pleased to invite all area residents to a site dedication ceremony and community meeting on Sunday, Dec. 8 for the new public library that is being built in the Thornhill Woods community. The library has been named Pleasant Ridge Library and the design build contract has been awarded to Maystar General Contractors Inc. in collaboration with Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. Please join VPL in celebrating the launch of this exciting new project, and take a sneak peek at the proposed design of the new library at the community meeting.
To register, please email at vpl.admin@vaughan.ca, or call 905-653-7323 ext. 4103. We look forward to seeing you there!
Rendering of Pleasant Ridge Library - Outside View
A site dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 17, dedicating the north-west quadrant of the Civic Centre Campus as the site of the future home of Vaughan Public Libaries’ third resource library. Despite the rain, the Vaughan Public Library Board, and Mayor and Members of Council were in attendance.The library being designed by ZAS Architects Inc., is now in the conceptual design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2014 with anticipated completion in 2015.
“The City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries have been collaborating since 2002 when plans for the third resource library began. We appreciate the funding support we have received from the City. This site will house an inspiring facility that will respond to VPL’s Mission of offering a welcoming destination that educates, excites and empowers our community. We are confident that the resource library will be a vibrant element of the City Hall precinct.” said Michael McKenzie, Chair, Vaughan Public Library Board.
“The Library Board spent a considerable amount of time discussing what role this new library would fill and how it would enhance the community,” continued McKenzie. “We created an overview of architectural considerations based on input from the community and staff.”
The professionals at ZAS were tasked with creating a library for the community that is:
Internally providing:
Highlights of proposed services & collections that will be included in the new library:
(From left to right) Ward 3 Councillor & Vaughan Public Library(VPL) Board Trustee Rosanna DeFrancesca, VPL Board Trustee Vivek Gupta, Deputy Mayor, Regional Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Gino Rosati, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate, VPL Board Trustee Steve Kerwin, VPL Board Trustee Isabella Ferrara, VPL Board Trustee Pradeep Puri, VPL Board Trustee Marie Chiaromonte, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Regional Councillor Deb Schulte and Regional Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Michael Di Biase were on-site to dedicate the north-west quadrant of the Civic Centre Campus as the site of the future home of Vaughan Public Libraries’ third resource library
(From left to right) Vaughan Public Library Board: Marie Chiaromonte, Rosanna DeFrancesca, Michael Di Biase, Devender Sandhu (Vice-Chair), Margie Singleton (CEO), Michael McKenzie (Chair), Pradeep Puri, Steve Kerwin, Marilyn Iafrate, Isabella Ferrara, Vivek Gupta and Gino Rosati
(From left to right) VPL Board Vice-Chair Devender Sandhu, Peter Duckworth-Pilkington and Dieter Janssen of ZAS Architect Inc., VPL CEO Margie Singleton, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, Commissioner of Community Services Marlon Kallideen and Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate
(From left to right) VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate
(From left to right) Interim City Manager Barbara Cribbett, VPL CEO Margie Singleton and VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie
A new resource Library is being planned for the Maple community at Vaughan City Hall (on the S.E. corner of Keele & Major Mackenzie). Please fill out a short survey to provide your feedback on the proposed design. Let us know how you will use the library and offer your suggestion for the name of the new library. Below are selected architectural renderings of the project.
View north towards entrance
View towards library entrance on Major Mackenzie
View towards City Hall
Children’s area
View from entrance
View from courtyard
Floor plan
A new resource library is being planned for the Maple community. Vaughan Public Libraries invites all area residents to a community open house to meet the team from ZAS Architects who are working on this project, and share ideas and suggestions for your new library. Come and take part in shaping your community.
When: Thursday, October 3, 7 – 9 p.m.
Where: Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive W.
. First Floor, Multi-Purpose Program Room
To register, please email vpl.admin@vaughan.ca or call 905.653.READ (7323), ext. 4103.
During the 2012 building audit of Kleinburg Library, repair concerns requiring attention to the building were highlighted. The scope of work identified for the renovation that is scheduled to take place in fall of 2013 includes:
The project has been reviewed with Heritage Vaughan Committee; received support by the Vaughan Public Library Board and has received Council’s approval at the June 25th Council meeting.
Nino Rico of NRA Inc. has been retained as a project architect for the Kleinburg Library renovation. Below are selected renderings of the project encompassing the scope of the planned renovations.
The timeline needed to carry out the scope of renovations and repairs will require intermittent disruptions to services and the branch will be closed to the public during portions of the renovations project. Detailed information on library closures will be shared with the public when renovation dates have been firmed up.
Larger windows will be installed and replacement of small windows will help to enhance street presence. New windows will be added to the south of the building to increase infusion of natural light.
Windows on the east side of the building will be enlarged.
New windows will also be added to the north of the building to increase infusion of light. Emergency exit will be relocated slightly.
New ramp will connect thought an outdoor reading garden on the south side of the building.
Ramp will provide access to the lower level of the library on the east side of the building.
Additional parking spaces will be included to the south of existing parking