Toronto Star Newspaper Centre:

For patrons of the Toronto Reference Library, the first hint of change in the lower-level newspaper reading room is the flutter of newspapers rising into the atrium. Fabricated of extruded aluminum mesh, the flying sheets of newspaper draw people down the stairs to the newly refurbished reading room.

Once severely overcrowded and outdated, the Toronto Star Newspaper Centre is now bright, comfortable and welcoming. In fact, according to Library staff, patrons are treating the space with new respect, carefully returning materials to the information desk and disposing of trash.

The large room accommodates three different areas: the microfilm area, lounge, and newspaper reading room. Lighting, carpet colours, and furniture selection differentiate the spaces which are visually open to minimize the staff required for service and surveillance of up to 2,000 people weekly. Ten floor-to-ceiling glass panels, imprinted with some of the most dramatic headlines in the Star's history, provide a sense of separation between the reading room and the microfilm area.

The furniture in the reading room has been specifically designed for reading newspapers. Glass tables are shaped with a centrefold and sized to accommodate open newspapers. Table tops tilt towards the readers for comfort. Glass was selected over wood because it doesn't absorb newsprint ink and can be easily cleaned. In the lounge area, colourful over-sized seating and soft lighting encourage relaxation.

The refurbishment of the Newspaper Centre is the first stage of an overall renewal program to update the Toronto Reference Library's facilities and restore it as one of the most important public environments for learning in Toronto.