Innisfil is a small town with a big city library that is attracting worldwide attention.
“Transform or die,” was the motivation for change as plans to expand the Innisfil Public Library Lakeshore branch started a few years ago, says head librarian and CEO Susan Downs.
“Some libraries refuse to look beyond the books, but we got creative and it’s been awesome,” she said, standing in the centre of the new, bright, inviting and unique facility.
“It’s been quite an experience.”
In its first year, the town's jewel has won a provincial award for innovation and continues attracting visitors from across Canada, the US and as far away as Amsterdam. There’s lots of curiosity and library officials want to tour the facility, pick Downs' brain and learn from Innisfil’s success.
For Downs, the goal has always been to build a creative hub that will attract the community.
“We encourage people to think critically and we want them to explore new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking about the world.”
“All kinds of great things are happening here," she said.
The Innisfil Beach Road facility is the product of Downs’ own creativity and innovative thinking and her ability to encourage and support staff suggestions and willingness to "try new things"
She spent her vacation time and her own money to travel with a group of her staff members to world-renowned libraries across Europe and in the US.
Amazed by what they saw in places like Chicago’s Skokie Library, the team brought their ideas and dreams of building “the best of the best” back to Innisfil.
“It was extremely exciting,” Downs said of the tour.
“We have woven a thread of what we learned in all of those places into this place, and I’m proud to say that the community is running this library. They tell us what they want and we make it happen.”
She admits that convincing the library board and town council to support her concept was challenging and there were detractors who argued libraries were "dinosaurs" not worth funding.
Some of the officials who opposed the library are now supporters, while others have never set foot in the door.
Putting successful experiences from around the world into action, Innisfil “cultivated a hacker ethic,” Downs explained.
It’s that hacker ethic that has young and not-so-young residents excited to visit the library.
Where else would you find an IdeaLab, Thinklab and a Hack Lab? How about a Head Hacker or a Manager of Creation and Discovery?
“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Innisfil resident Michelle Stievenard. “I’m here all the time. It’s not about the books, really. It’s about so many new things to do.”
In less than two hours one morning, Stievenard learned acid etching and used her new skill to design and create personalized wine glasses.
The Hack Lab is the heart of the library most days, and Alan Groombridge keeps that heart beating steadily.
He's the Resident Tinkerer and that means he helps visitors learn to use the 3-D printer, vinyl cutter, acid etching tools, laser cutter, reverse embosser, CNC and milling tools and other equipment designed to keep creative minds and hands busy.
“A lot of the projects completed here are being shared online as instructables,” Groombridge said, holding up a cigar box guitar that was built in the lab.
“We have lots of kids in here, as well as moms and dads, seniors . . . Every day is different.
“It’s all about ideas. If you have an idea, we can help.”
The Hack Lab is all about technology, building and creating.
Computer instruction happens in the ThinkLab and if music or video production is your thing, there’s a room for that too.
Groups are invited to perform on the stage – open to the street in the summer months.
“I’m not sure how it happens, but it’s amazing,” Downs said, smiling and relaxing for a moment in her office.
“Some days when you come in here there are just so many things going on. Sometimes we get really, really messy and noisy. When you are a community hub, you have to expect that."
Downs has been on the job for 27 years. Always looking for the next challenge, she shows no sign of slowing down as she talks about opening a reading garden later in the spring.
"I've got ideas," she said, flashing a sly smile. "We have to be willing to take risks and allow things to happen.
"We stand here sometimes and say 'Yes, this is we wanted to do. This is what we dreamt and it happened. It's amazing."
