New at LAC

I stopped in briefly at Library and Archives Canada on Wednesday to be greeted by quite a hubbub in the sunken lobby. The source was a large number of school-kids there to see the exhibition Alter Ego: Comics and Canadian Identity featuring reproductions of art by Canadian comic book artists and of some of Canada’s superheroes. The exhibition also features comics about Canadian history, as well as selections from Canada’s contribution to the genre of biographical and realist comics. It runs through the summer. It was certainly good to see the attention being paid and enthusiasm for the exhibit by the youngsters.

After registering I proceeded to put materials that could not be carried to an upper floor in a locker, only to find the area has been reorganised. Lockers have been moved to both sides of the area previously reserved for coats as indicated by signs.

Part of the area where lockers were previously is now used for food and drink vending machines.

Adjacent areas are set up with tables and chairs with a good view outside where one can also go to relax on a fine day. That's not quite the facility to encourage social interaction one would hope for, the fifth floor cafeteria is still missed, but certainly more pleasant than the immediately previous arrangement in an enclosed room.