Looking for old library featured on the CBC.

March 14, 2010 2:15 PM

CBC Radio had a program on an old Quebec library (I think - in Montreal) - that dates from the 1800's and is supposed to be absolutely stunning. Something that people would envision being right out of Harry Potter. Unfortunately - I could not make out the name of the Library - and lot's of googling has come up with nothing. Does anyone here know if the Library in question?
posted by helmutdog to media & arts (10 answers total)

Was it Dawson College?
posted by Sallyfur at 2:32 PM on March 14, 2010

Are you sure it wasn't Ottawa? The Library of Parliament is pretty kick-ass.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:50 PM on March 14, 2010

I think I heard the same CBC show you're speaking of. It's the Morin Centre, which is managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, and is located in Quebec City.
posted by angiep at 3:13 PM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Was this sometime last week? I heard the same show as angiep (Ideas?), which discussed the Literary & Historical Society.
posted by iona at 3:32 PM on March 14, 2010

There are two I've heard of in Montreal but not actually seen. One is the Atwater Library, whose stacks are sitting on thick glass you can see down through. I believe anyone can go in there. The other is the old law library at the top of the old Palais de Justice on Notre-Dame – the building that sits between the Hôtel de Ville and the current Palais de Justice. I don't know whether that's accessible to the public but I don't think it is, or at least not as a regular thing.
posted by zadcat at 6:01 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think the Morin is the space they are talking about - but the other library look awesome too. I live in Vancouver - so old libaries are not the sort of thing that one finds here on the West Coast.

Many thanks!
posted by helmutdog at 6:18 PM on March 14, 2010

I'm also pretty sure it's the Morin library. It's amazing, one of my favourite spots in Quebec City.
posted by OLechat at 7:42 PM on March 14, 2010

If you like fancy libraries in general, please enjoy this set of gorgeous photos and maybe this list for your googling pleasure.
posted by Sallyfur at 9:08 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sallyfur - thanks for that. Completely awesome. The amount of information, ideas, and thoughts contained in those rooms is mind boggling.
posted by helmutdog at 10:25 PM on March 14, 2010

ohhh, Sallyfur, those libraries are gorgeous! Now I want to be a librarian...
posted by meringue at 10:38 PM on March 14, 2010