A Goodbye Letter to The Library

  To some in this city, it’s just the Imperial Pub. But to many of us, it will always be The Library.
 
 After eight decades, the iconic bar that served generations of TMU students, alumni, and downtown regulars is finally closing its doors. For countless late-night  thinkers, TMU planners-in-training, and seasoned planners,  The Library wasn’t just a pub; it was a tradition. After an exam or the submission of a major planning project, this was the spot to decompress, a place to share thoughts, laugh about the chaos, and reflect on the  highs and lows of the semester. That first drink
always felt like a small reward after weeks of hard work.

 Even for members of the TMU School of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association (SURPA), The Library remained a gathering place. After alumni meetings, many would find themselves back here, reminiscing  about their student days, reconnecting, and reflecting on how far they have come  in their planning careers. And for planners across the industry too, The Library became a familiar spot after conferences and networking events. It became the spot to unwind, share ideas, and reflect on where the field of planning was headed next.

 It was the kind of place that didn’t need perfect lighting or fancy decor. For most of us, it was like
 an unofficial campus spot, the kind where it wasn’t truly about talking about planning, but about  people and community.

The library serves as a powerful reminder of why it’s so important to create spaces like this. Places that blur the line between campus and community, that feel like they belong to everyone.

As The Library closes its doors, it’s a call to reimagine more places like it. Spaces that bring people together not just as students or professionals but as a growing community of people who share a collective passion. In this case, it would be planning!

What can be said, although The Library will pour its last drink on November 15th, the stories and memories made within those walls will live on long after the lights go out.



You will be missed, Imperial, but never forgotten.