The long-awaited opening of Edmonton's new downtown public library closes the book — in a manner of speaking — on the traditional notion of libraries as quiet repositories of published materials and spaces for study and research. "Our revitalized building will completely redefine how our city views and interacts with their public library," Pilar Martinez, CEO of the Edmonton Public Library, said in a news release. Closed for construction for nearly four years, the original library building has undergone an extensive renovation. As well, there is a new Indigenous gathering space, Thunderbird House, which is the first public space in Edmonton to support smudging. ""We anticipate Edmontonians will be pleasantly surprised and thrilled when they see our revitalized library and all that it offers," said Martinez.

Source: CBC News September 15, 2020 18:56 UTC