Library Buildings around the World

Dan S. Hanganu, Montréal, QC – Canada
http://www.hanganu.com
Libraries :
Marc-Favreau Library, Montréal, QC – Canada on design
Montréal, February 15, 2010 – This past December, the four finalist firms in the competition to design the new Marc-Favreau
Library submitted projects of high quality that complied with the core development requirements: family aspect, integration of new
information technologies, importance of design, and concern for sustainable development. After deliberating, members of the jury
unanimously chose the project submitted by the firm Dan Hanganu Architects, citing, among other reasons, the firm’s modern
approach to the image of a new generation of libraries. The winning submission also stood out for the following reasons: The design
quality is a perfect fit with Montréal’s status as a UNESCO City of Design. With regard to the building’s façade, the jury
appreciated the way the transparent central volume framed by two masses of masonry (including the existing building at 700
Boulevard Rosemont) blends with the new section dubbed “Le Coffre,” which will house the main stacks. The central area, called
“La Lanterne,” becomes an avant-garde window open to the outside. The whole seems to be borne by the image of Sol (the character
famously portrayed by the late Marc Favreau), ubiquitous on the imposing column in the forecourt. The project is well suited to the
street grid and the site. The fluidity of the spaces provides “breathing room” for Parc Luc-Durand, in the rear, which will be
surrounded by several other new buildings. Inside, the jury liked the amply lit spaces, the generous opening of the library onto the
forecourt, the way the reading rooms face the green spaces outside, and the pride of place given to the multipurpose room and
multimedia room, strategically sited behind glass in La Lanterne so that passersby cannot fail to notice the activity within.
Also notable are the multigenerational aspect of the design, and a number of elements borrowed from nature, such as wood elements
and a living wall, evoking Mr. Favreau’s interest in the family, ecology and sustainable development. (http://mtlunescodesign.com)
MONTRÉAL, le 25 mai 2012 - C'est avec fierté que le député de Laurier-Dorion, monsieur Gerry Sklavounos, au nom de la ministre
de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine, madame Christine St-Pierre, le maire de Montréal, monsieur Gérald
Tremblay ainsi que le maire de l'arrondissement de Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, monsieur François William Croteau ont marqué
officiellement aujourd'hui le début de la construction de la bibliothèque Marc-Favreau. Rappelons que cette bibliothèque, qui sera
située à deux pas du métro Rosemont dans l'arrondissement de Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, vient combler le déficit en bibliothèques
de ce quartier. Cet important projet de 19 M$ bénéficie d'un soutien financier du ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de
la Condition féminine, de la Ville de Montréal et de l'arrondissement dans le cadre de l'Entente sur le développement culturel de
Montréal.
« La consolidation du réseau des bibliothèques publiques constitue l'un des axes principaux de l'entente culturelle entre la Ville de
Montréal et le ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine et un engagement dans le cadre du Plan
d'action Montréal métropole culturelle 2007-2017. La nouvelle bibliothèque viendra combler une lacune dans ce quartier à forte
densité familiale et permettra ainsi d'améliorer la qualité de vie des citoyennes et des citoyens de l'arrondissement. Afin d'accroître
l'accès à la culture de la population, le gouvernement du Québec investit chaque année des sommes importantes dans la rénovation,
l'agrandissement et l'implantation d'équipements culturels dans les centres de diffusion, les salles de spectacle, les musées et les
bibliothèques », a déclaré le député de Laurier-Dorion, monsieur Gerry Sklavounos.
« Le début de la construction de ce qui sera l'une des plus belles bibliothèques de Montréal est une excellente nouvelle pour les
citoyens de l'arrondissement de Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie et pour l'ensemble des Montréalais. Cette bibliothèque avant-gardiste
conjuguera design, développement durable et convivialité, en plus de remplir admirablement son rôle visant à encourager la lecture
et à augmenter l'accès à la culture pour l'ensemble des citoyens. La bibliothèque Marc-Favreau sera très certainement appelée à
jouer un rôle important comme pôle culturel, social et communautaire », d'ajouter le maire de Montréal, monsieur Gérald
Tremblay.
Monsieur François William Croteau est particulièrement enthousiaste de voir enfin se concrétiser ce magnifique projet tant attendu.
« Je souhaite ardemment que la bibliothèque Marc-Favreau, pensée et imaginée par les équipes de l'arrondissement et de la Ville,
conçue par la firme d'architectes Dan S. Hanganu, et réalisée par la firme Sept Frères Construction, soit un lieu culturel prisé et
fréquenté par les résidants de tous les âges de l'arrondissement. Elle viendra augmenter leur qualité de vie, tout en rehaussant
magnifiquement le paysage urbain de ce secteur en pleine revitalisation. »
Rappelons que quatre grands axes d'aménagement ont guidé la conception de la bibliothèque afin qu'elle devienne ce lieu privilégié
d'information, d'éducation et de culture : vocation familiale, nouvelles technologies de l'information, design et développement
durable.
Rappelons également que la nouvelle bibliothèque Marc-Favreau fait partie du vaste projet de mise en valeur du site des anciens
ateliers municipaux qui comprend de nouvelles tours d'habitations à vocation mixte ainsi que le site Bellechasse, en voie de
développement, qui transformera le paysage urbain de ce grand quadrilatère. (http://www.montreal2025.com)
Faculty of Law Nahum Gelber Library, McGill University, Montréal, QC – Canada 1996 - 1998
Unique library for a unique school
New students entering McGill's Gelber Law Library for the first time may be curious about the large statue of a hare that greets
them in the lobby, standing upright and seemingly full of purpose. The Nijinski Hare, as he is known, is one of many pieces of art
that add a distinct flair to the facility. That particular item, a former resident of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, is a loan from
Nahum Gelber, a law alumnus who you may have guessed was instrumental in making the library a reality. In the Nahum Gelber
Law Library, the Nijinski Hare looks busy as always. Owen Egan
The library opened its doors in 1998, rescuing scores of students and faculty from the previous library, often described as
overcrowded and stuffy. Designed by one of Canada's most influential architects, Dan Hanganu, the Gelber Library is a bright,
beautiful, contemporary building. It is an integral part of the law faculty and of its program as well. Every law student must follow
two years of legal methodology courses, the research section of which is taught by a librarian. This way, every student is provided
with an opportunity to hone their skills in what John Hobbins, law librarian, terms "information literacy" — the ability to find
information in the electronic world. (Hobbins notes that required courses make for a captive audience.) Without taking anything
away from the artwork or research potential, the greatest benefit to users of the Gelber Library is undoubtedly its impressive
collection, which makes it, for Hobbins, "unlike any other Canadian academic law library." It is a collection based on a policy
developed by the librarians that reflects the unique nature of the law school it serves. In 1998, McGill's Faculty of Law adopted what
is known as a trans-systemic approach, whereby both common law and the civil law are studied together, with an emphasis placed on
legal traditions, comparative law and the internationalization of law. The library had to suit this reality. "Other libraries offer
professional training for a particular jurisdiction — we don't really do that," explained Hobbins, adding, "We tend to look at law as
an academic discipline rather than as professional training for the bar." That attitude echoes the underlying philosophy of the law
school. The Gelber Library spends a larger portion of its budget than most law libraries on books and monographs, as opposed to
"continuations" — journals, serials, periodicals. In so doing, it supports research (rather than training) and intensive study that is
international in scope. When choosing additions to the comparative foreign collection, for example, Hobbins refers to the FIGS rule
19