Librarie Guérin (4560 Rue St Denis)
For many Montréalers, Librarie Guérin is indelibly associated with the back-to-school blues. This branch in particular was a major supplier of printed textbooks for high-schoolers. Designed and installed by Métropole in August 1978, these giant, closed-channel, metal letters have bright orange, plastic fascias. Each letter is approximately 4ft high and 1ft deep, comparable in size, fabrication method, and era to Warshaw and Radio-Canada CBC (pre-1974).
The acquisition included a peculiar illustrated character (‘bonhomme’) who appears to be ye olde bookseller. The metal sign is shaped to match the life-size character, who is rendered rather loosely on the off-white surface in maroon. holding a book, metal with maroon painted fascia, reverse channel, approx. 6.5ft high.