First Impressions At Beacock

Being relatively new to London, I haven't had the chance to really explore any of the public library branches other than the Central location and I was looking forward to exploring what the Beacock branch had to offer its community. I visited Beacock (located near the corner of Highbury and Huron) on a Tuesday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was. There was a wide variety of people present including: seniors, teens (some who were with tutors), parents/guardians with young children, and other adults ranging from college & career to middle age.
















From the outside it is very easy to find the library building with both a sign at the roadside and large lettering on the side of the building pointing patrons towards the entrance. Once inside I found that with the exception of staff offices and several study and meeting rooms, all of the library's resources are held in the one large main room. While it would be easy for this room to seem overwhelming, it was clearly divided with areas sectioned off and designated as being the Teen Annex or Children's Area. The green paint colour used was warm and although the main source of lighting is fluorescent lights, there are two large ceiling to floor windows that allow a great deal of natural light into the the room which makes it feel much warmer and more welcoming.

Teen Annex Area

One of the large windows was located in the Children's Area which was well decorated with bright fun paintings on the wall, a play area with a tub of toys, and also incorporated lower shelves which would allow children easier access to materials. The groupings of tables and work stations closest to the Children's Area were also lower to the ground than those located elsewhere, and the children there were encouraged by staff to make themselves comfortable which added to the child friendly feeling.

Art work in Children's Area

The other large window area was used to create a comfortable reading area with different types of comfortable arm chairs for patron use. This was the area furthest from the circulation desk, computers, and was separated from the Children's Area by some shelves which increased the likelihood that patrons would be able to read or relax in a peaceful environment without infringing on the rights of others.

Other areas of importance included a community literature area consisting of a bulletin board and pamphlets advertising groups and services available in the community. There were also computer terminals in multiple areas serving as a homework center, internet access points, and CD-ROM and listening stations. A specifically designated Newcomer's Help Desk, that is staffed part time, serves patrons who are looking to learn more about the area, the language, and other issues that might arise when moving to a new city. There was also a staffed Employment Resource Center that offered computer use and a staff member who was helping patrons look for work, and create cover letters and resumes.

Community Literature Area

While the Beacock branch is smaller compared with the Central branch, it utilizes the space well, and offers a full range of services to its patrons. I'm looking forward to learning more about the community it serves as well as looking at how things might possibly improve.