As we prepare to renovate the CCLA Library, we are removing select titles from our print collection. We’d like to see as many of these items as possible land in happy new homes, so we’re going to keep an updated list of items that we have available for the taking up here on the blog. If you see anything on this list that you would like, please get in touch. All items are free but for the cost of shipping (if you have a shipping account number we can charge to, that would be the absolute best).

Additionally, if there is something specific you’re on the lookout for, please let us know – we might just have it but haven’t marked it for weeding yet.

You can email us at library@ccla-abcc.ca, or give us a call at 613-233-7386 extension 221 (or toll-free in Ontario at 1-866-637-3888).

Updated August 8, 2017

Legislation – Canadian

Statutes of Canada, Various Years (Contact for specific volume information)

Revised Statutes of Canada 1970

Revised Statutes of Canada 1985 (missing volume 1)

Alberta Statutes, 1960-2008

British Columbia Statutes, 1960-2002

British Columbia Revised Statutes 1960

Manitoba Statutes, 1960-1966

New Brunswick Statutes, 1960-2002

Newfoundland and Labrador Statutes, 1952-2007

Prince Edward Island Statutes, 1960-2008

Quebec Statutes, 1959-60-2008

Quebec Revised Regulations 1981

Quebec Gazette Part 2, 1977-1988

Saskatchewan Statutes, 1960-2008

Yukon Statutes, 1994-2008

We’ve recently added a new page to the CCLA Website that focuses exclusively on the renovations project.  You may click here to go directly to that page, or find it from the homepage of the CCLA website through About CCLA > Site Renovations.  On this page, you can see a slide show of the concept images from [in]Tempo Design Studio, as well as concept floor plans for the Barristers’ Lounge and Library spaces.  We invite everyone to take a look at the site plans, and to let us know what you think!  Our Executive Director would love your feedback, so if you’d like to send him an email, you can do so at rhaga@ccla-abcc.ca.

It has been some time since we’ve written about the renovations on the Library Blog.  While nothing has visibly changed here at the CCLA, that does not mean that our Renovations Committee hasn’t been hard at work, making the project possible.  There are a good number of steps to a renovation project of this scale, and we’d like to share with you some of our key milestones so far.

In early 2011, the CCLA developed a Renovations Management Committee.  This Committee is chaired by 2011 CCLA Past President Clive Savage, and has done a tremendous amount of work in moving this project along.  As previously mentioned, the CCLA engaged Ottawa firm [in]Tempo to create design concepts for our Lounge and Library.  After touring the CCLA’s space, and consulting extensively with CCLA board members and staff to identify spatial requirements and thoughts on how the space could be made better, a design was finalized early last year.  This design was approved by the Board shortly thereafter.  In April 2011, we held our first large stakeholders meeting to present [in]Tempo’s design.  Invited to this meeting (from outside of the CCLA) were members of the Judiciary, courthouse administration, representatives from Infrastructure Ontario (the organization that manages government buildings on behalf of the province), and Martha Foote, the general manager of LibraryCo.  The design was very well received by those in attendance, and in June 2011, the Ministry of the Attorney General (“MAG”) approved our renovations project.

Once approval for the design was granted from MAG, a fundraising committee was struck here at the CCLA during the summer of 2011, with 2011 CCLA President Mary Jane Binks, Q.C., serving as chair.  This committee is made up of senior leaders from the Ottawa legal community and the Executive Committee, and will be reaching out in their fundraising campaign in the coming months.

Also during the summer, the CCLA Board met again to fine-tune our project proposal in anticipation of further talks with MAG.  In the fall, we met with MAG’s Facilities Management Branch to develop the project charter for the renovation – a project charter essentially being the contract between the CCLA and the MAG, specifying the parameters of the project, the time line, and the financial obligations.  As the CCLA is considered to be a tenant in the Courthouse, we are obliged to follow their processes for a renovations project of this scope.  As such, these meetings also involved Infrastructure Ontario in their capacity as facilities manager, and the engineering firm SNC-Lavalin, who will serve as the construction project manager.

Our most recent milestone has been in setting the cost estimates for the project.  As our initial estimate varied greatly from that provided by MAG, our Renovations Committee has been at work in moving the cost estimate back down towards our projections.  In late 2011, MAG agreed to an estimate much closer to the that initially obtained by the CCLA.

This brings us to the present.  We are currently creating a page on our website dedicated to the renovation.  This page will include all of the concept drawings we have from [in]Tempo design, as well as the draft floor plan, which I’m sure many of you will be excited to see.  We’ll be letting you know as soon as the page is ready, as well as providing more regular updates on the project.  If you are planning on attending our AGM next week, we will have some of the images on hand for you to check out there – please do, and let us know what you think!

As the renovation process is a long one, we’ve made some changes here in our space to help fulfill some of our needs or wants for the library in the meantime.  Most of these we’ve been able to do for a very low cost, and usually by using materials or items that we already have in the library.  Re-using  and re-purposing existing materials for these measures has been quite important to us, from both an environmental and financial standpoint.

One of the biggest changes we’ve made – almost everyone comments on it, as you see it as soon as you enter the library – is the construction of a wall in the reference desk area.  Astute observers will know that what started out as three desks in a row became two desks and a wall of bookcases last fall.  Then, earlier this year, two desks became one desk, and the wall shifted forward.  What happened there?  The library staff had been discussing how to make it possible to be “off” the reference desk, even though we were completely out of office space.  We thought (very briefly) about modular walls, but they were a) expensive, and b) not nice to look it.  It would look a little too jerry-rigged for our liking, and if this was a temporary measure, we certainly didn’t want to spend very much money on it.  It came to us one day that a perfectly suitable “wall” could be made with bookcases, doubled up for stability and extra storage, and anchored down.  Not only would it create a partition behind which a private desk could be located, but it was a great visual reminder that we have books behind the desk (really good books, at that!).  It was an immediate success, and after a few months, the wall moved forward just a bit more.  The space behind now houses two desks, with the third, the official reference desk, in front.  While sitting “out front” of the wall, it’s all reference, all the time.  You’re never, ever bothering us when we’re sitting there, we promise!  The space behind the wall affords staff members a bit more quiet space, to do more involved legal research, update the CCLA website, and process new materials for the library.  The move (or rather, moves) were a lot of physical work, but cost almost nothing.*  To paraphrase those Mastercard commercials, having something approximating two new offices in an already maxed out space: priceless.

Less labour-intensive changes have included a re-vamping of our current periodicals display.  By reassigning a wall-mounted display unit from next to the library washrooms to the reading room, we were able to attractively display our new periodicals.  We supplemented this with a new holder for newspapers – something our old periodicals display was ill-equipped to hold – and a new, smaller wall-mounted display unit near the reference desk, and suddenly our displays for new magazines, papers, newsletters, and brochures where clean, tidy, well-stocked, and accessible.  We’ve also tidied up our public computer area.  We’d love to purchase new computer desks, but in the interim, we’ve re-configured how the computers are set-up on the desks, allowing for more work space and less visual clutter.  We also unearthed some very spiffy chairs in storage that look a whole lot nicer than the old computer chairs.   These cost effective and environmentally friendly changes have made quite the difference for the library, and will see us into the renovations nicely.

Our only regrets in this whole process?  The CCLA staff members are the absolute worst for documenting anything with pictures.  Every time we make a change that is truly mindblowing, we realize we should have taken before and after photos.  Maybe some things – like those awful computer chairs – are best just forgotten.

*Total costs amounted to a new cable to run Internet access through, two bulletin boards, and one shawarma dinner for former Reference Librarian Katie’s husband, who has moved around more furniture in this library than he probably cares to remember.

Last fall, the CCLA conducted a survey designed to elicit responses from the Ottawa legal community on how we’re doing.  There was a question relating to the renovation, and changes that people would like to see.  Hold back, you did not: the barristers lounge needs an update.  To that we say: Oh boy, do we know!  We hear you!  The lounge is one of the areas most obviously showing in terms of the age of some of the construction materials (wallpaper, I’m looking at you).  The furnishings are looking a bit drab, too, and why is it so dark in there?

There’s also a storage issue of which we’re keenly aware.  Any given weekday during the colder months (which is a considerable length of time here in Ottawa), there’s not a free hanger in sight.  Coats are everywhere: they’re on hangers, hanging over closet doors, on chairs – everywhere but the floor!  That needs to be addressed, and our designer is certainly working on ways to make more coat storage space, that also looks significantly cleaner and tidier than the current wardrobes.

We’re also really keen to shape the lounge to have more functional space.  This will be one of the most dramatic changes during the renovation.  I am unable to explain the technical details with enough clarity in this post, but creating space within the lounge that will allow for meetings or small training sessions is something we’re very much hoping can happen.  We’re also working on the configuration of furniture to allow for better conversation space, and finally, a much sought-after feature: the space and ability to hold a more private phone call.  Once we’re further along in the process, I’ll be very excited to share more details on all of these plans with you.

Overall, we’re hoping to create an inviting and professional space for our legal community to use while in the Courthouse.  We’ve heard of great lounges from other courthouses in the province, and we’re feeling a little bit of lounge envy.  We suspect some members of our community might be, too.  Perhaps you’ve been in them and can speak to the experience  – which courthouse lounges have you been in, and what did they do that you liked?

So why do we want to renovate the library?  Since this space was designed and built in the 1980s, there has been a good deal of change in how libraries are used and in their spatial requirements.  If you’re reading this post right now, you’ve hit upon the major change: the Internet.  What was once only available in (expensive) bound volumes is available free online.  What was once requiring of a multi-volume (indeed, multi-series and multi-volume) set to research, can now be done on very easy to use (and of course, expensive) subscription databases.  While it pains us somewhat, in that we like books and don’t love removing them from the collection – and all too often, into recycling – some of these titles aren’t proving a good return on investment for the space and cost of keeping them in the library.

That said, there are still many, many things available in print that lawyers use in their daily research and work, and we need to have space for those items and to make them available to our clients.  Our task in 2011 is to identify which items fall into which categories, what we can get rid of, what we need to keep, how we anticipate research will be carried out going forward, and what that means we will need for this library in the future.  It isn’t easy, but we can take solace in knowing we’re not alone: every library, especially those undertaking a renovation, must consider the same.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however.  In fact, quite the opposite!  With making changes to the collection and space, we will hopefully change how we’re able to interact with our library users, and how we can make this place better for them.  To start – the reference desk.  We want to be accessible to library users.  There are currently too many desks up front – we want to be where you can easily walk up to us, ask for help, and even sit down and walk through a database or catalogue search together.

We also want to improve on the spaces we have for library users to work.  As I mentioned in the previous post, the temporary offices aren’t very conducive to keeping the noise down.  Anyone who’s been in the library has also probably noticed that the soundproofing for the permanent offices isn’t all that great either.  After the renovations, we’d like space for quiet work.  We’d also like space where two or more lawyers can work together, without disrupting those wanting a quiet environment.  And we’d like an area that’s a bit more relaxed.  Perhaps a place that’s a bit more comfortable to sit while reading Law Times or The Economist, but still in the relative quiet of a library.  We’d also like to make sure that we have enough room for more computers.  Currently, we have seven computers for library users.  In the future, we imagine the need will increase.  We want to have workspaces that allow print and computer research at the same time, with desks and chairs that are comfortable and fit for purpose.

These are the major changes we’d like to see and hope to accomplish.  There are a tonne of smaller items (book carts that fit CLE binders! new signs!), but all relate back to how we can make the library space better for users by way of good study or research space, clear organization, efficient access to library services, and a welcoming and professional environment.  What would you like to see?

I planned to continue the renovations discussion with a post offering a bit of back story when I realized that there was likely enough to fill three shorter posts (for ease of reading for busy lawyers and those on the go!).  This post, the first, will serve as an overall background to why we’re renovating.  The following post will look at the library specifically, while the last will focus on the barristers lounge.

Opened in 1986, the Ottawa Courthouse has been the home of the CCLA since day one.  We have a formidable space on the second (or, depending on how you look at it, main) floor, with a goodly amount of library stack space, areas for reading and study, and a combination of permanent and temporary offices.  We have the wonderful advantage of being on the east-facing wall of the building, so plenty of natural light floods into the space.  Even more fantastic is that the windows in what is currently our reading area will be overlooking the new green roof being installed at the Courthouse.  You could say that we have some great bones to work with – plenty of room, lots of windows and natural light, and a great location.

So why do we want to renovate?  There are a few reasons.  One of the first reasons, likely the most apparent to a visitor of the library, is that the age of the space is showing.  While 25 years old isn’t all that much in building years, some construction and design materials simply need to be updated regularly.  Would the courthouse have been built with marble floors and walls, perhaps not, but the wallpaper, paint, and carpet treatments are all in desperate need of repair or replacement.  The refurbishment of these items alone would be a wonderful improvement to the space.  While this is a concern in the library, it’s also very readily apparent in the adjoining barristers lounge.

Another major reason for the renovation focuses on the how the space is currently configured, and how it is no longer fit for purpose from both a staff and library users perspective.  We have more staff than permanent offices.  In fact, it’s not even close.  We’ve taken some measures to “make” more space (the subject of a future blog post), and offices with modular walls have been created, but neither are ideal.  One of the main reasons is that the offices with modular walls don’t have ceilings.  This means sound carries, right over into one of the more popular reading areas in the library.  We very much do not want to disturb library users with the noise that goes along with the business of a law association.  It’s also not great for having confidential conversations, with clients sitting directly out side ceiling-less offices.  Ultimately, it isn’t a great arrangement for staff or library users.

Following on that, re-configuring the space would also have the absolutely wonderful added benefit of being able to change the way the library staff interacts with clients.  We’d love to see a space where we’re much closer to the reading and computer area, where we’re not behind two layers of desks when you need assistance, and where we can see what is going on in the library.  There’s also the possibility with a re-configuration that we’d be able to introduce a more diverse selection of work spaces – room to work quietly and alone, space for working with another lawyer, or a more comfortable seating area for more relaxed reading.  A new training space or area for medium-sized gatherings would be particularly exciting to our events staff – the possibilities for learning events and social gatherings with a new space such as that would be endless.  Currently, space in the courthouse matching this description is either non-existent or very hard to come by.

Going forward, these are some of the major issues we plan to address with the renovation.  We have tonnes of ideas for ways to make the space better, and we’re sure you do as well.  While we will be having meetings with many stakeholder groups to help shape the area, we certainly welcome your feedback and ideas.  If you would like to send in any feedback for the renovation in confidence, please email me, or our Executive Director Rick Haga.

Replace the wallpaper, or just get rid of it altogether.

Is there a way to create more quiet space for researching?

A reference desk that looks into the library, with a lower desk to sit at with clients.

Could we try a new configuration of computer work spaces?

For the CCLA staff, the CCLA library and barristers lounge renovations project has been in the works for what feels like quite a long time.  For over a year, we’ve been discussing what we would like to fix, to change, to build, or to remove in order to create a refreshed, professional, and highly useful space for Ottawa lawyers.  Now that the CCLA has entered into a partnership with the local design firm inTempo, however, the fun (and hard work) can truly begin.

Renovating our space will be no small feat.  Not only are there a multitude of opinions, ideas, and suggestions for what we can and should do, but there’s also the matter of fundraising for this project, and for coordinating the work with the owners and managers of the Courthouse.  A renovation for a library is an incredibly fun and exciting time, though certainly not without a great deal of thought needing to be given to the overarching challenges and opportunities facing all libraries in the 21st century.  How many of these books will we keep?  How much more room for computers do we need?  What does the law library of the future look like?

Here in the library, part of our participation in this project will be to blog the renovation project from start (this post you’re reading) to finish (hopefully in 2013, in time for the CCLA’s 125th anniversary).  We hope to keep an ongoing journal on the renovation, providing both an inside look into the process, as well as a glance into the planning and rationale for some of the design decisions.  Your feedback and ideas will always be welcome, and we look forward to creating and sharing a new space for our legal community.