I read your article on the Crescent Heights Library in The Sprawl. It brought back many memories.
I was the manager of the library when it closed. I remember the shock of being called to the Central Library and told that the branch was closing at the end of the day. With a frozen feeling, I went back to the branch.
On the drive back, I started a list of things that needed to be done immediately. I told the staff we were closing. After the shock wore off and the tears had dried, the main reaction was, “What do we do for our patrons, to make this easier?”
To a person, the staff put aside their own shock, worry for the future, and grief. They calmly talked to the patrons in the building, phoned people who had books on hold, packed books to go to other branches and put up signs to explain what was happening.
At the end of the day, we locked the doors for the last time, ending a piece of Calgary history.
It took about a month to dismantle the library and reallocate or store the materials. The staff moved on to other branches and had long, good careers with CPL.
Having worked in the building, I understand the decision intellectually. The building was not built to hold the weight of books. It would have been expensive to remediate. The era of connectivity was fast approaching and we didn’t have the room to add terminals etc.
But a library is more than materials. Your article enunciated exactly what that library meant to the community—it was a safe welcome place where there was knowledge and recreation, served with a caring smile.
Thank you for the memories,
Aruna Marathe