Benny Library – Montreal

“I particularly remember visiting the Benny Library in my neighbourhood of Montreal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG). There is a reason for it being a project that comes up so often in discussions of the city’s successful architecture, and having experienced it firsthand I can attest to the strategies both architectural and social that contribute to it having become nothing short of a neighbourhood staple. Its location on the calmer part of one of the main streets of the area, placed inside a cultural centre and facing a sports facility, as well as its colourful and dynamic façade, immediately signal its welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere; the feeling of safety and comfort is established well before the library-goers even step foot in the place. Inside, it is lively but still relatively quiet; while it is made clear the library does largely cater to families and children especially, the zoning of the interior spaces is done in an efficient and logical way that allows all patrons to quickly find their respective spaces without disturbing the peace of the others. Furthermore, whether it be activities, services, theatre, readings… Everything the centre has to offer is clearly announced and the distinction between the space’s different functions is done in such a way that people who frequent the library are bound to one day come into contact with the performances or cultural events taking place, which is perhaps what I most appreciate about this place. I can even comment on this myself: after a few months of moving to NDG and making my way over to the Benny Library solely for books, I eventually found myself picking up a pamphlet announcing the upcoming plays being put on, and as the library had already become such a familiar place, I found myself highly inclined to get some free tickets to attend one of them.

Upstairs, we get even more of an idea of what makes this library special. Music partition and instrument rentals are clearly announced right by the help desk, which is a service I was always aware Montreal libraries offered but had never seen on display for myself. In the teens and adults’ sections, work tables are set all the way alongside the windows, making for a hugely enjoyable space to come sit down and be productive in, all the while getting a view of the neighbouring park and the rest of this familiar area. In the back, tutoring services are also proposed, and the environment is made to feel more relaxed with colourful walls and bean bags. Again, the space is divided in such a way that feels efficient and accommodating to all who might pass through it. The Benny Library does not feel like a place you just drop into, but rather a building in which you want to stay for a while. In my ten years of being a frequent visitor of it, I have never been able to simply stop and borrow or return a book quickly; every single time, without fault, I feel the need to take that grandiose centrepiece staircase, make my way upstairs, and take the time to get lost between the bookshelves, even just for a few.” (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.75).

Photos: CDN-NDG (1); baburek.co (2); Jean Gagnon (3-4)