New library opened downtown
The library of the Centre Sanaaq, in one of the buildings constructed on the old Children’s Hospital site, was inaugurated Friday, the mayor saying it helps make up for a paucity of city infrastructure in that part of town.
Radio-Canada asks how well a library will coexist with the many homeless in that corner of town, suggesting it might not be so cosy.
Nicholas 06:59 on 2025-05-10 Permalink
I know they serve different purposes, and it’s paid, but the Atwater Library is literally diagonally across the street from the old Children’s, and is the oldest subscription library in Canada.
Margaret 07:16 on 2025-05-10 Permalink
The Atwater Library is a gem in the city – celebrating 200 years of service to the community. The new library at the Sanaaq Centre will take some breaking in to feel warm and comfortable in a way that the Atwater Library achieves the minute you walk in the door. From the mezzanine where works by Aislin and other Montreal artists feature in regularly renewed exhibitions, to the book shop in the basement where many affordable, used-book treasures can be found, the library is a real hub of activity and services. The fees to join are minimal (they are mostly self-financed and need support from members and donors) and their holdings very much up to date. It is not in competition with the new VdeM library, but a rare centre of community engagement in its own right. I suggest checking the weekly events listed to see the range of speakers and workshops on offer.
walkerp 09:15 on 2025-05-10 Permalink
I did not know about this library and specifically that they had a used book store in the basement. Much appreciated @Margaret!
Ian 11:39 on 2025-05-10 Permalink
Also worth noting, the Atwater Library was originally a private lending library founded by the Mechanic’s institute, whose central goal was to create a more educated working class as “modern” industry required this. The reason Montreal didn’t have public libraries (and famously refused a Carnegie Library) is that the Catholic Church didn’t want people to have access to books that might be “inappropriate”.