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services in th e future. Needed were 15,000 "extra"
square feet, almost double th e floor space, for a
total of 33,000. Th e completed project would
actually provide 29,600 square feet.
In a written plea to th e Library Committee
accompanying these findings, chief librarian Rose-
mary Lydon said, "I strongly recommend that the
services of a library building consultant be retained
to give guidance on th e us e of available spacean d
the design of additional space."
Based on th e two user polls, th e survey of space
and continued pressures from th e mayor, city
council agreed late that fall of 1988 to hire Toronto
library planner Albert Bowron to conduct a feas-
ibility study on th e future of Westmount's library
services an d facilities.
"The package is th e problem," he stated in
presenting a 72-page report that followed. Hi s
numerous recommendations for updating opera-
tions were presented July 6, 1989, to a joint meet-
ing of th e Library Committee an d theWestmount
Advisory Committee on Culture. Most interesting,
in retrospect, wa s hi s option for expansion which
called for demolishing th e 1959 annex an d con -
structing a new three-storey wing to wrap around
WESTMOUNT LIBRARY - SHOWIMÛ NEVA,
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2/ Expansion layout proposed by Bowron in 198 9
the back of the Findlay building. Estimated cost of
new construction was $2 million.
"The goal is to simplify th e library," he
explained. "Additions have tended to complicate
the structure", confusing an d even turningoff
library users. He envisioned a historical room with
crystal chandelier an d Persian rugs suitable for
displaying th e library's historical collection. It
should be situated in the 1911 children's library
that since ha d been sub-divided into offices. He
also suggested an ar t gallery an d meeting rooms.
"Whether or no t you agreed with Bowron's
recommendations, th e library project was on th e
move," says Sally Aitken. "And with May as mayor,
fortunately, there wa s no turning back."
Armed with th e Bowron report, Mayor Cutler
called a town meeting on "culture an d leisure" for
November 13 , 1989. It was exactly halfway through
her mandate. Chaired by Library Committee
chairman Michèle Dutrisac-Kilburn, th e meeting
heard little opposition to th e plan to upgrade th e
library. Citizens, at least, seemed on side.
It was about this time that political help came
from unexpected quarters. A council seat opened up
when new business commitments forced finance
commissioner Phillip Aspinall to resign. Astutely,
Mrs. Cutler persuaded entrepreneur an d former city
councillor Peter Trent to return an d fill the vacancy.
"That was th e turning point," sh e recalls. Sh e
knew that Mr. Trent supported renewal of th e
library. If he would ru n as mayor in th e next
election, sh e would not. "At least, I thought, I ha d
started something that somebody else knew ho w
to finish."
And so it was January 16 , 1990, that Mr. Trent
joined th e councillors with whom he ha d once
worked under Mayor Gallery.
Another important step in moving th e project
along, according to Mrs. Cutler, wa s the appoint-
ment January 1, of a new library trustee, retired
businessman an d veteran library user Raymond
Ullyatt. Ultimately, he would come to chair both th e
Library Committee an d the Library Project Steering
Committee.
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