Rooted in one of Canada’s most historic communities, the library faced the challenge of balancing reverence for the past without being trapped by tradition.

When Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library approached us, they faced a familiar challenge for civic institutions: how to modernize their identity without losing the trust and timelessness that a library embodies. Their existing look was dated and distant, and out of step with the library’s role as an active, welcoming community hub. They needed a brand that could balance those two worlds: enduring and civic, yet approachable and forward-thinking. Something simple enough to stand confidently among other institutions, but flexible enough to extend across everything from signage and digital channels to program materials. Our solution leaned into clarity and restraint rather than trend. We created a modern symbol - a stylized book that also reads as horizon, beacon, and possibility. It doesn’t shy away from the heritage of libraries, but instead reframes it as a source of direction and lifelong learning. Paired with Swiss-inspired typography and a place-rooted colour palette drawn from Niagara’s vineyards, parks, and historic architecture, the new identity is measured, confident, and quietly joyful, much like a moment found between the pages of a good book.