Wednesday, February 2, 2005

TOURS

TOURS at Toronto Public Library

10:00 am - 12 noon or 2:15 pm - 4:15 pm
LILLIAN H. SMITH LIBRARY
239 College Street
4 blocks west of Queen's Park subway station.

You will be welcomed by two bronze griffins as you enter this unique downtown building and a multi-faceted world of library service. Opened in 1995, Lillian H. Smith Branch serves a diverse multicultural community, with an emphasis on children's programming and an electronic Le@rning Centre. Highlights of the tour will include the world-renowned collections and exhibits of Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books and Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy.

Pre-registration is required. No cost.

10:00 am - 12 noon or 2:15 pm - 4:15 pm
TORONTO REFERENCE LIBRARY
789 Yonge Street (one block north of Bloor)
One block north of the Yonge/Bloor subway station.

The flagship branch of Toronto Public Library opened in 1977, with an award-winning design by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama. Boasting over 390,000 square feet on five double floors, the Library is the largest public library in Canada; 5 million items are housed on over 50 miles of shelving. The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, the Baldwin Room of Early Canadian History and the Consumer Health Information Service are unique. The Information Commons has over 100 computers, the Digital Design Studio and the Centre for People with Disabilities. The tour includes the Preservation and Digitization department and Answerline, TPL's phone, email, and live reference service.

Pre-registration required. No cost.

2:15 pm - 4:15 pm
TALK 'N' TOUR: RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Design/Build: A Radical Approach to Bringing an Information and Learning Commons to Life

What do you do when a generous donor comes through with funds for the construction of an Information and Learning Commons and you have only a few months to conceive, design and build it? The Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons at Ryerson University is an exciting new, state-of-the-art facility that brings together the Library, the University's IT unit, the Writing Centre and other campus services. Come for a tour and learn how the Ryerson Library managed to fast track this ambitious project, from conception to successful completion, through intense collaborative efforts with members of the Ryerson community, architects, designers, builders and,of course, library staff.

Pre-registration is required. No cost.

TO REGISTER FOR A TOUR
There is no charge but you are asked to tick the box on the registration form (on this web site or on p. 71 of Super Conference book) to help planners work out the details for your visit.