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HoOPLA - November 2019
Institutional, your membership number is 27537.
1. President's Message
2. What's New
3. Around The Province
4. People In The News
Next Issue
November 7, 2019
HoOPLA is a privilege of membership for members of the Ontario Public Library Association. It is issued 4 times per year. Electronic issues are distributed in May, August, and November, and a print edition is available at the Super Conference.
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1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I hope everyone is taking time to enjoying the crisp air and vibrant colours of autumn before winter hibernation begins. Fall is a busy time for OPLA and OLA. Your association and colleagues have been celebrating Canadian Library Month, First Nation Public Library Week and Ontario Public Library Week, with a variety of activities, including Library Day in Your Riding. Libraries across the province invited their local MPP to learn about the critical role libraries play in the lives of Ontarians. These visits focused on showing MPPs that public libraries are Ontario’s farthest-reaching, most cost-effective resource and community hubs because public libraries help millions of Ontarians independently train, learn and reach their potential.
Do you know someone who should be recognized for their outstanding work in public libraries? Please consider nominating them! Awards offered to current members of the Ontario Public Library Association (OPLA) include:
James Bain Medallion
The James Bain Medallion is awarded to a library board member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in governing a public library in Ontario. This annual province-wide award recognizes and honours the best contributions and efforts of board members who govern public libraries. James Bain was the first president of the Ontario Library Association in 1901, and chief librarian of the Toronto Public Library.
OPLA Lifetime Achievement Award
The Ontario Public Library Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a library staff member who has given lifelong service to the profession and has contributed significantly to the growth and innovation of public libraries in Ontario. The president of the Ontario Public Library Association presents the award at the annual Public Library Awards Gala held at the Ontario Library Association’s annual
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Super Conference.
OLA Award for Technical Service
The Ontario Library Association recognizes the Ontario librarian, teacher-librarian, technician, library worker or department who has made a substantial achievement to their institution and/or the library profession in the area of technical services. This award is about recognizing those who help with the efficiencies and improved access to materials. Awards like this foster innovation, create an environment to share ideas and support high morale among technical service workers.
Additional awards, through OLA, include:
OLA Larry Moore Distinguished Service Award OLA President's Award for Exceptional Achievement OLA's Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award OLA Archival and Preservation Achievement Award OLA Library Building Award Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship
Please do consider nominating a colleague! Nominations close November 15, 2019. Any questions about awards can be directed to [email protected].
OPLA elections are currently underway. Vacant positions include:
1. Vice President/President-elect 2. Southwestern Region 3. Central West Region 4. Eastern Region 5. Kickstart to Participation
We look to recruit diverse candidates from all sizes of public libraries across Ontario to represent our members, so consider putting your name or a colleague’s name forward to join us! If you have any questions about the work of Council or the role of Councillor, I’m happy to speak to you. Feel free to reach out anytime! Nominations close November 15, 2019.
Elizabeth Malak OPLA President Area Manager, Albion/Maria A Shchuka/York Woods Toronto Public Library [email protected]
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2. WHAT'S NEW
2.1 Leading with the Lendery at Markham Public Library
Imagine a collection that inspires your customers to try new things, save money, avoid clutter, and all in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. Imagine a collection that invites customers to borrow items they didn’t know you had.
Welcome to “The Lendery” at Markham Public Library (MPL) – a “library of things.” Customers can borrow items such as sports equipment, kitchen equipment, camping gear and tools for a variety of Do-it-Yourself (DIY) projects around their home. Grand opening of the Lendery
The grand opening was in July of this year and early feedback indicates customers are happy with it and already requesting new items. Customers enjoy borrowing tools and other items that might only be needed on an occasional basis, avoiding unnecessary spending and clutter. Others are pleased to try their hand at some of the cooking equipment before deciding if they want to purchase it. Many enjoy borrowing sporting equipment for some impromptu fun.
The Lendery is the first of its kind in York Region. It was formed through a partnership with York Region’s Sustainable Waste Management & Environmental Services. The goal is to help support residents to be more sustainable, more innovative and be inspired to learn new things.
The Lendery is just another example of innovative The MPL Lendery collections that MPL offers to its customers. It supports the toy lending library, our makerspaces, and our digital learning hubs located across the eight branches of MPL. It provides another opportunity for our
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customers to “imagine, create, learn and grow”!
Karen Yang Publicity & Social Media Marketing Manager Markham Public Library [email protected]
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2.2 What's coming up with OLA Best Bets
The OLA Best Bets Committee is working hard reading as many titles as possible to award the 2019 Top Ten best in Canadian fiction and non-fiction for children and teens. To date, the committee has read and reviewed more than 250 titles, including picture books, fiction, non-fiction and YA. We wanted to give readers a look into some amazing titles we have had the pleasure to review so far! Look for our final lists at the OLA Super Conference.
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, illustrated by Hatem Aly, Little Brown & Company Faizah is looking forward to her first day at school. She has light-up shoes and her older sister is wearing a hijab for the first time, in a vibrant blue. Bullies make a perfect day into a disturbing one for Faizah until she sees her sister and friends dismiss the taunts.
Stand on the Sky by Erin Bow, Scholastic A young Kazakh girl saves a baby eagle and trains to become a Burkitshi (eagle hunter) to win the money needed for her brother’s medical treatment. An inspiring tale that leaves readers yearning to read more.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, Groundwood Books Laura Dean, the most popular girl in school, is bad at relationships. Federica feels the brunt of Laura’s attitude, breaking up and going back to her, even with friendships on the line. With stark prose, and perfect illustrations, Tamaki captures the push and pull of toxic relationships.
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3. AROUND THE PROVINCE
3.1 Sheridan College and Brampton Library Team up to expand course offerings
L to R: Brampton Library Board Chair Jaipaul Massey-Singh, Sheridan College President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Janet Morrison, Councillor Rowena Santos, Councillor Harkirat Singh and Brampton Library CEO Rebecca Raven.
Photo credit: Alanna Fontaine
Educators, librarians, students and residents gathered in September to officially launch the next phase of Sheridan College and Brampton Library’s partnership to expand 21st century learning options in Downtown Brampton. Sheridan will offer continuing education courses at Four Corners Branch Library. “On behalf of the Brampton Library Board, I’m very much looking forward to hearing about not just the enrollment statistics, but specifically the stories shared by the people who graduate from these programs and the successes that they have, in contributing back to Brampton,” said board chair, Jaipaul Massey-Singh. The initial offering includes three introductory level courses, all of which are the first step to achieving a certificate in their respective disciplines of Data Science, Business Analysis and Project Management.
June Dickenson Manager, Marketing & Communications Brampton Library [email protected]
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3.2 Ask Me: Hamilton Public Library Speaks Your Language
Demande-moi. Chiedimi. Frag Mich.
If Hamilton Public Library staff doesn't speak your language, we’ll find someone who can. In response to a survey suggestion, HPL launched the Ask Me campaign earlier this year to help reduce barriers to using the At Hamilton Public Library, we speak your library, as well as to improve our language customer service offering.
Collectively, HPL staff fluently speak 21 languages, from Arabic to Italian to Punjabi. The blue and white Ask Me buttons are worn by multilingual staff members to let customers know there is an instant resource available on site.
The Ask Me campaign also includes a partnership with Remote Interpretation Ontario (RIO). With the push of a few buttons on a phone, all staff have easy access to RIO’s translators of more than 180 languages off site. Staff can call RIO’s toll-free phone number, key in the first three letters of the requested language and are instantly connected to an interpreter. A three-way phone feature also allows staff to help customers who call the library requesting help. The translation service is available at all 22 HPL branch locations during open hours. To learn more about the Ask Me service, visit hpl.ca.
Antonella Giancarlo Senior Communications Officer Hamilton Public Library [email protected]
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3.3 TD Summer Reading Club in Manitouwadge!
This year we challenged our community to read with us throughout the summer and track their pages. We were overwhelmed with the excitement of our community to join us, from young to old. We had 45 students (and 18 adults because we just couldn't turn them away) sign up for our program, and we thought we would set an obtainable goal for our first year tracking this way - 30,000 pages. By the end of July, we had already exceeded that goal and doubled it - 60,000 pages.
Our community rose to the challenge and beyond. This summer we read 136,855 pages. Families joined us on August 30th to celebrate a job well done with ice cream sundaes and an awards ceremony. Students received 3D-printed TD Summer Reading badges and awards, and each student received a certificate for excellence in reading. Many of our local business also donated prizes to congratulate the students on a job well done. We had two students read over 10,000 pages, which was a huge accomplishment. It has been amazing to see students excited about reading, many of them updating us wherever they saw us about books they were reading!
Elizabeth Bierworth Librarian/CEO Manitouwadge Public Library [email protected]
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3.4 Alice in Wonderland Escape Room, Pt. II
The magical world of Wonderland once again returned to the Timmins Public Library this summer for the Alice in Wonderland Escape Room, Part II. Its return was the natural progression after the success of Part I – where participants raced to unlock a magical tea before the Mad Hatter’s return. In Escape room entrance The Queen of Hearts’ throne room this chapter, the beloved White Rabbit is accused of stealing the Queen of Hearts’ royal tarts, and it’s up to teams to help him escape! All props were handmade by library staff in order to bring the characters and places from the world of Wonderland to life. The room transported participants to the Mad Hatter’s cozy tea party, the mysterious Tulgey Wood, as well as the Queen of Hearts’ throne room. The outcome of the event was great, with the escape rooms bringing in a total of 165 participants combined. Many who challenged Part I returned for Part II, and we saw some new faces as well!
Carole-Ann Churcher Chief Executive Officer Timmins Public Library [email protected]
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3.5 Culture Alive @ APL
While APL celebrates culture 365 days of the year, we pull out all the stops for Culture Days with events that occur simultaneously, pumping up the energy and creative vibe. This year’s ultimate “library cool” was a drumming circle led by Shaw Percussion right in the middle of our living room. The acoustics were fabulous, and the energy created by young and older made for fabulous community-building. Drumming Circle at APL’s Reccia Mandelcorn Culture Days celebrations Manager, Community Collaboration Aurora Public Library [email protected]
3.6 The Gathering: Festival of First Nations Stories in Midland
The Midland Public Library was pleased to be a partner with the Orillia Centre for Arts and Culture, the Town of Midland, and other local organizations in bringing the Gathering: Festival of First Nations Stories to our community.
Over three days, Midland hosted concerts, school visits, and public readings by Tomson Highway, Alicia Elliott, Jesse Thistle, Darryl McLeod, Daniel Heath Justice, Cherie Dimaline, Lee Maracle, and authors and artists with local ties, like Sherry Lawson and Tsista Kennedy. Tsista Kennedy at the Gathering Festival
On Saturday September 21, we were privileged to share in an Anishinabek sunrise ceremony, and then to hear these important stories of resilience, joy, family, and leadership. We’re looking forward to being a part of the next festival!
Faith Roebuck Shergold
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3.7 Clearview Public Library gets a visit from Queen and Consort
(In living colour) Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had the pleasure of requesting your company "to eat cake" with their guests of honour, who included members of the general public plus library staff, museum staff and the Creemore Log Cabin Board (tourism and heritage/culture).
The rallying cry of "Let Them Eat Cake" rang through the air at a very special celebration in honour of Queen Victoria's 200th Birthday at the Creemore Log Cabin on the Victoria Day Long Weekend. On this holiday weekend, the Clearview Public Library (CPL), in partnership with the Creemore Log Cabin Board and the Simcoe County Museum (SCM), joined forces to open up the official start of the summer tourist season in Southern Georgian Bay.
More that 150 people came out to taste-test Victorian Sponge Cakes made from recipes courtesy of CPL, play Victorian children's games with costumed interpreters from SCM, and learn all about "life unplugged" by paying homage to Queen Victoria and her Prince Consort, Albert. By combining the resources and people power of these three different organizations, the result was a very unique synergy that created a truly special occasion. The best part - not one cell phone or device was in use during the whole morning. Instead, there was conversation, interaction and lots of laughter! P.S. The People's Choice Award for the tastiest Victorian Sponge Cake was awarded to Prince Albert for his traditional version using his grandmother's recipe.
Michele McKenzie Deputy CEO Clearview Public Library 13/30 November 26, 2019 Page 14 of 31 C 7 - Library Info
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3.8 Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) hosts third annual Vaughan Fan Con
Cosplay- Participants from Paint Avatar Martial Arts in Civic Customers wearing teens Your Way to Hogwarts Centre Resource Library’s stitching in the teen showcasing their work Reading Patio fandoms lounge
Vaughan Public Libraries hosted its third annual Vaughan Fan Con at Civic Centre Resource Library on Saturday, September 28. More than 1,000 people of all ages participated in the day-long convention. Highlights of the day included cosplay and photoshoots in the green room; DIY Hogwarts painting; stitching your Fandom; demonstration of the maker service button maker; Q&A with stunt performer Tally Rodin; Avatar martial lessons; gaming including video games and table top games; kids’ superhero storytime and Pokémon Scavenger Hunt; various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities; colourful artists' alley, and anime screenings. It was an event enjoyed by all and Vaughan residents can’t wait for the next one!
Zahra Khaki Marketing & Communications Assistant Vaughan Public Libraries [email protected]
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3.9 Literacy Ship sails into the Clarington Public Library
The Courtice Literacy Ship sailed into Clarington Public Library’s Courtice Branch on August 22, 2019. This wonderful addition to the Children’s Area features interactive play stations including counting beads, a treasure hunt, and word matching games, all designed to build children’s early literacy skills through play and exploration. The ship has been a hit with library members, particularly young children! The ship was designed and installed by Keebee, the premier producer of modular Literacy Ship a hit with young play equipment. The interactive features were children selected especially for the ship and promote fine motor skills, counting, pattern matching, and print awareness. In addition to the ship, underwater-themed decals were installed on the Children’s Area walls to help define the space and give library members a complete nautical experience. The literacy ship would not have been possible without the generous support of numerous sponsors, including Ontario Power Generation.
Michelle Morrison Information Services Clarington Public Library [email protected]
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3.10 Aurora Public Library’s Amazing TD Summer Reading Club
Aurora Public Library saw a 55% increase in our TD Summer Reading Club registrations over last year (and at least 45% over any previous year), and we got rave reviews from beginning to end of the program. Why? Because we did Read and Bead! Started Examples from the popular Read and Bead reward program by the library blogger Little Bit Librarian, Read and Bead is a reading rewards program.
Children who registered for APL’s TD Summer Reading Club got a ball chain necklace and a ‘brag tag’ with TD Summer Reading Club art. Children could come back any time to get beads to add to the chain for reading and program attendance or special learning activities. If they reached 20 hours of reading, they got a free book (taken from our donations). It was amazing, we will never go back!
We also got rave reviews for our daily drop-in program schedule for the whole summer. We had Maker Mondays, Tech Tuesdays, Kid Lit Wednesdays, Thingamajig Thursdays, Sci Fridays and Stupendous Summer Saturdays, and the reviews were nonstop positive for beads and programs, both: “It was such a great idea. All my children loved it, please do it again next summer!”; “Please have TD Fall Reading Club, Winter Reading Club, and Spring Reading Club too!”; “The beads were a surprisingly good idea, my kids loved them so much that they took the necklaces on vacation to show them off. Please do it again!”
Polly Ross-Tyrrell Children’s Librarian Aurora Public Library [email protected]
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3.11 New musical instrument collection at Caledon Public Library launched during Culture Days
CPL Library Board, local dignitaries and Friends of Youth showing off the
CPL celebrating the launch of CPL’s new musical masterpieces they created instrument collection. during Battle of the Brushes.
Close to 400 people celebrated Culture Days and the launch of Caledon Public Library’s (CPL) new musical instrument collection as part of the 10th anniversary of Canada’s national celebration of arts and culture.
The day was filled with the talents of Caledon’s creative community and a wide range of cultural activities, such as: the Artsploration Bus; art exhibits; Battle of the Brushes for adults and kids; a Bollywood dance demo; Read Local Caledon authors; art demonstrations; a henna station; Cricut and 3D printer demos; and with the launch of the new musical instrument collection in the afternoon, lots of music.
CPL now proudly houses six Yamaha F325D Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars, six Beaver Creek Mahogany Concert Ukuleles and two Beaver Creek 601 three-quarter size acoustic guitars at the Albion Bolton branch for customers to borrow.
Melanie Alderfer-Mowat Coordinator, Communications & Community Development Caledon Public Library [email protected]
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3.12 New partnerships at the Mississauga Library
Bike Repair program participants Chair Yoga program Amazing Race learning to mend tires participants winners
This year, Mississauga Library has been working in partnership with various departments in the City of Mississauga to provide new and exciting programs for customers of all ages.
During summer, the library entered into a partnership with Mississauga Transportation & Works to provide Bike Safety & Repair at 14 library locations. Aimed at ages 9-12, more than 180 children participated in the program, learning about bicycling safety tips, how to fix a flat tire, and practicing their newly acquired skills.
Adults across Mississauga are discovering ways to be active through an innovative Try-It Fitness pilot with the City’s Recreation Division. Launched in October 2019, thirteen library locations are hosting qualified recreation instructors who lead monthly classes on everything from chair yoga to fitness drumming, as well as seminars on health and wellness. Library and recreation staff are excited about reaching new audiences, promoting our resources and services and working together to encourage social inclusion, especially among older adults and newcomers.
Finally, this September the Mississauga Library worked with Mississauga Transit (MiWay) to run a city-wide Amazing Race program! Participants travelled for free on MiWay buses and visited all 18 locations of the Mississauga Library. The library Teen Advisory Groups created challenges at each library location and participants earned points by visiting libraries and solving the tasks set out for them. Twenty-one teams of three competed in more than 60 fun challenges throughout the entire city of Mississauga. All participants returned to Central Library for a final showdown!
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Tamara Stojakovic Manager, Social Engagement Mississauga Library [email protected]
3.13 S.T.E.A.M Saturdays at the NCPL
William and David William and The kids working Madeline working making the first David with their together to make a big hard on her paper paper finished paper rollercoaster out of plate and cup rollercoaster, week rollercoasters pipe insulation rollercoaster 1
Summer might be over, but the fun is just getting started! At the beginning of September, Norfolk County Public Library started their brand new S.T.E.A.M Saturdays—a program where kids are invited to question like a Scientist, design like a Technologist, build like an Engineer, create like an Artist, deduce like a Mathematician, and (most importantly), play like a kid!
Our theme for September was Rollercoasters and each Saturday we explored the aspects of science, technology, engineering, art, and math that work together to not only create a rollercoaster, but to make it work. The kids learned about gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy, angles and design, bringing theory and experience from one week into the next to build on their strategies and overall fun!
Starting with a simple paper rollercoaster the first week, we built bigger and better with paper plates and cups the second week, and by the third the kids worked together to construct a large-scale rollercoaster out of pipe insulation! By the last week, the kids were able to make a rollercoaster that not only twisted and turned, but looped and hooped, successfully carrying a marble from start to finish.
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Geared toward children ages eight and up, we had eight children registered and were inspired by the way they communicated and collaborated to bring their vision to life!
Belinda Smith Technical and Social Media Library Assistant Norfolk County Public Library [email protected]
3.14 Inaugural Little Branches Rural Roots Conference a hit with participants
“Find your Branch” in the art corridor
Q&A session at the Authors’ Plenary Photos courtesy: Madawaska Valley Current
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What happens when a group of librarians from local rural branches get together to lament the lack of resources available to smaller libraries? Give it two months of planning and you have the Little Branches Rural Roots Library Conference, held in Arnprior this past October. The two-day conference attracted more than 100 bookworms from all over Eastern Ontario.
The Steering Committee, comprised of four CEOs from libraries in Barry’s Bay, Killaloe, Renfrew and Arnprior, secured an incredible list of presenters who focused their sessions and workshops on the needs of small, rural libraries. Among the topics discussed: mental health, cataloguing, collection development, podcasting, programming, fundraising and more. Plus, publishers and vendors provided generous sponsorships and donations.
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3.15 ESL Supports at Wellington County Library
Many rural areas of Ontario have been welcoming greater numbers of new Canadians into their communities over the past few years. However, small towns can have difficulty offering adequate support for learning and practicing English as a Second Language. In Wellington County, the library and the Settlement Services teams have been working together to offer solutions to this gap in service.
We began last year with an ESL workshop using Mango Languages. Building on the success of this, we now also offer a monthly adult ESL Conversation Circle. This runs in tandem with a bilingual Arabic- English story time for children, allowing families to arrive together but engage in learning that is age- appropriate. The children practice their English and maintain their Arabic, and the adults improve their English by speaking with other adults in an informal setting.
Each month, the adult circle chats about different Arabic-English Story Time at topics and enjoys some refreshments. Although our Harriston Branch patrons have primarily been recent Syrian immigrants, all who would like to practice speaking English are welcome.
Similarly, at our Arabic-English Story Time patrons do not need to have any previous experience with speaking Arabic to attend. The Story Time is primarily in English, with a bilingual Settlement Worker translating the book as our children’s programmer reads it. The Settlement Worker asks the children to practice saying certain words back to her and engages with them throughout the program.
Wellington County Library strives to offer our small towns big opportunities. By providing services to reduce language barriers, we help connect our new patrons to the rest of their new community in a welcoming way.
Rosie Krul Branch Supervisor, Harriston Branch
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3.16 Emma Donoghue and Charlotte Gray at the Grimsby Author Series
Emma Donoghue Charlotte Gray at her reading Authors stayed after their reading from Akin of Murdered Midas talks to sign books Photo credits: Teanne Teeft
The Grimsby Public Library kicked off the highly anticipated 18th annual Grimsby Author Series this past September with authors Charlotte Gray and Emma Donoghue. It was so exciting to see another full house out for a fantastic night of books, wine and great conversation. Reflecting on the nearly two decades the library has been running the Series, it’s great to see how the number of attendees has increased since the early days at Grimsby’s old pump house.
From its beginning, sponsor Sue Tallman remembers “how cozy and intimate it was. There was only a handful of us then.” Eighteen years later, the series has grown with care and commitment, resulting in 250 tickets purchased this last season within 48 hours, for another sold out program. “I need to stop telling people—I can’t save anymore seats!” says Rita Cipriani who, along with her partner Tony, attended the evening in a group with more than a dozen guests. The success of the series would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors – Thank you!
Simone Rauscher A/V & New Media Coordinator Grimsby Public Library [email protected]
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3.17 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot wins Stouffville Reads 2019
L to R, Library board members Anand Date and Nadine Williams, library CEO Margaret Wallace, library board chair Sandra Liaros, winning book champion Marissa Stapley, library board members John Relph and councillor Sue Sherban, library board vice chair Bill Slovitt
On September 26, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library hosted its 5th Annual Stouffville Reads event. Five Book Champions defended five books related to the theme of “Great Inventions” and event guests voted on which book Stouffville should read. This theme was chosen to celebrate the library’s focus on STEAM programs and services. Guests enjoyed drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction while listening to the book champions’ 5-minute presentations. Following these book presentations, guests cast their votes, choosing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, presented by author Marissa Stapley.
Catherine Arthurs Marketing & Communications Coordinator Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library [email protected]
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3.18 Tween/Teen DIY Craft Tuesdays in Champlain Township
Fall mason jar globe Glow-in-the-dark pumpkins
This fall, our library has started a DIY craft Tuesday for children ages eleven and older. We had girls between the ages of 11-12 who came out to our first craft and they loved it. This age group tends to lose out because they are right in between our junior and teen book clubs. We are thrilled to have found something that interests them. The first craft was a fall globe and it was not too costly, as we were able to get donated mason jars and obtained the branches from our backyard. The only cost was the metallic leaves and glycerin. What a hit! Our October DIY craft was painting pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paint. We asked a local farm to donate or lower the cost of the pumpkins and we purchased the paint. We are very pleased with the success of our new program and hope it encourages other libraries to appeal to this age range.
Alicia Heinzle Children's Library Services Bibliothèque Champlain Library [email protected]
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3.19 A Busy Fall at Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
Programs coordinator Kate Scheiers, Library CEO Margaret Wallace with library assistant Madeline King, teen donors, members of Whitchurch- advisory group member Maggie Yuan, local Stouffville Council, and Whitchurch- author Frank DiGenova Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library was honored to participate in Stouffville’s inaugural Pride in the Park event, held on September 7. This event brought together community organizations, musical performances, vendors and more for a fun-filled day in Memorial Park. The library used its booth to promote LGBTQ+ books and resources, as well as advertise for an upcoming Storytime with Fay and Fluffy, drag stars based out of Toronto.
Then, on the evening of September 18, library staff and the library board honoured community donors with the unveiling of a new donor wall. “Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library has been extremely fortunate to have the support of community donors who enrich our library’s programs and services,” stated Margaret Wallace, WSPL’s CEO. “Our donor wall is a lasting tribute to their generosity.”
Catherine Arthurs Marketing & Communications Coordinator Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library [email protected]
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4. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
4.1 New staff at Elgin County Library
Two new staff have joined our team. Courtney Kennedy is now the Supervisor for Dutton, West Lorne and Rodney branches, replacing Shelley Fleming, who retired after 33 years of service. Courtney has her MLIS from Western University and an Honours BA in English Literature from Trent University. Prior to joining our team, she served for more than eight years as a supervisor with the Lambton Kent District School Board and as a Courtney Kennedy Natalie Marlowe library assistant at our Dutton branch.
Natalie Marlowe is our new Library Coordinator, replacing Laura Molnar, who has moved to Scotland. Natalie has her MLIS from Western University, a diploma in book and magazine publishing from Centennial College, a diploma in communicative disorders from Durham College and a BA in linguistics from the University of Toronto. She has seven years of library experience (both public and academic) and was most recently Emerging Technologies Librarian at Woodstock Public Library and a substitute supervisor for the Oxford County Library system. Natalie has also worked as communications coordinator for the Ontario Library Association and before formally joining the library world, served as marketing and promotions coordinator for Pembroke Publishing. Welcome to our team!
Brian Masschaele Director of Community and Cultural Services County of Elgin [email protected]
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4.2 Congratulations Alison Yntema of Oshawa Public Libraries
Friends and colleagues at Oshawa Public Libraries congratulate Alison Yntema for being presented with this year's Children's or Youth Services Librarian of the Year Award!
Alison never ceases to show our community how public libraries are a great equalizer and source of empowerment for youth. Her fun- loving and professional approach to librarianship is appreciated both within the library and at our popular outreach events.
Alison is a member of the Durham Region Welcome to Kindergarten Committee, has worked with the Coalition for Action Against Bullying in Durham Region, and is an enthusiastic supporter of Durham Region's "Battle of the Books" annual competition. She also initiated Oshawa Public Libraries' very first Home School Club several years ago.
“We would like to recognize and thank Alison for being a true library champion, and for touching the lives of those she interacts with each day,” says Ellen Stroud, Director, Service Design & Delivery, "Alison is a most worthy recipient of this award."
Dina Pen Corporate Communications and Marketing Strategist Oshawa Public Libraries [email protected]
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4.3 Richmond Hill Public Library CEO Announces Retirement
After seven years as the Richmond Hill Public Library CEO, and more than 30 years working in Ontario’s public libraries, Louise Proctor Maio has announced that she will retire on November 30, 2019.
Louise originally started working at RHPL in 1988 as a circulation assistant and progressed through a variety of roles in various library systems. She returned to Richmond Hill as the library’s CEO in August 2012 and led its board in a redefining visioning review that became the foundation of RHPL’s 2013 Strategic Plan. Louise also set the stage for the approval and development of the new Oak Ridges Library, a two-story modern library that is scheduled to open in late fall of this year.
Under Louise’s leadership, the library developed a robust, online presence along with electronic services that are heavily used as a virtual branch by the residents of Richmond Hill.
On learning of Louise’s retirement, library Board Chair David Bishop stated, “Richmond Hill Public Library has benefitted greatly from Louise’s exceptional skills during her seven years as CEO. While the library’s bricks and mortar may look the same, the library has experienced transformational change under her leadership.”
The library is forever grateful to Louise for her commitment to staff, innovation and service. We wish Louise and her family nothing but the best in her retirement.
Annesha Hutchinson Specialist, Communications Richmond Hill Public Library [email protected]
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