
The Maisonneuve Library is a striking blend of history and modernity, housed in what was once the city hall of the former Cité de Maisonneuve. Built in 1912 in the Beaux-Arts style, the building has seen a dramatic evolution—from municipal governance to a pioneering cancer treatment institute—before becoming a library in 1981. A major $23.2 million restoration and expansion, completed in 2023, transformed it into a contemporary cultural hub while preserving its architectural heritage.
Today, the library offers much more than books. It features a Medialab, tool and seed lending programs, digital resources, and community workshops. Its glass-enclosed expansions create bright, open spaces designed for both quiet study and social interaction. With regular events, exhibitions, and even a podcasting studio, Maisonneuve Library embodies the shift toward libraries as dynamic, multi-use public spaces. It’s not just a place to borrow books—it’s a place to connect, create, and learn.
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