Adapting

The modern library is more community hub than book lender

It’s not about the books. It’s about the information. Yes, libraries have always had books and they probably will have books in some format for years to come. But how do you keep up with a society constantly craving information in real time? There is a form of library renaissance afoot these days where they have been able to focus on being a hub of information and not just a place to borrow books. Modern libraries have become places where one can gather information via several different platforms. You can use an Internet terminal and access the Internet. You can take a class and have a tactile experience to gain your information. Or you can go the old-fashioned way: look for a book and absorb through reading. Barbara Sweet is the CEO of the library and heads the community programming aspect of all branches in the County.

“There’s a resurgence of libraries all over North America right now. They are being reimagined more as community hubs these days, filled with cultural programming. People are starting to realize that libraries can be used for so much more than just books. But right now in our library we have so much going on that it has become a crisis of space. We have all of these great program ideas and nowhere to put them,” says Sweet.

There are some shining examples of late regarding Canadian libraries and their ability to keep both current and relevant for the people that use them. The Halifax Central Library opened its doors in December of 2014 and has become a popular gathering place. In addition to a higher number of books than the previous building, the Halifax Central Library features cafés, an auditorium, community rooms and lots of quiet spaces to sneak off to. The Scarborough Civic Centre Library opened in 2015 and became the City of Toronto’s 100th branch. The library is tucked into one of the most densely populated and culturally diverse areas of this country and is designed to respond to whatever the community needs. There are basically no walls, just large columns and partitions that can be morphed into what is needed. Even the bookshelves are on wheels.

(L-R): John Ambrose, Barb Sweet and Alexandra Bake in front of Picton Library, standing beside the fundraising meter.

Our libraries here in the County are also a testament to a public system that can roll with the times and attempt to keep up with how fast the world is moving tech-wise these days. The addition of 3D printers was incredibly smart because it sparked interest in people of all ages.

The Picton Library is the largest of the County libraries and plans for a renovation are in place that will the see the space grow even more. The expansion is needed if the library is to continue providing the diverse community programming it has become so well-known for. It is a prime example of a library where its community outreach is becoming too big for the footprint of the building. More space and upgrades to the facilities are required to properly serve the needs of the community. But there is a delicate nature to a renovation of this kind. As one of only 125 Carnegie Libraries built in Canada, the Picton Library is a heritage designated landmark and any changes to the building must be carefully considered. Over 40,000 people visit the library annually, and 11,213 people attended programs. Considering the town of Picton hovers around a population of 4,000, that’s every single person in town going 2.5 times a year.

Some programs also don’t have to be techsavvy to be relevant. The completely volunteer run Musical Instrument Lending Library loaned out 321 instruments in 2017, which was double the amount that was loaned out the previous year. The lending library is located at the Milford branch and its success is due directly the community’s involvement with the project.

With the slogan “It’s overdue, time to renew,” the Picton Library renovations will include an expanded book collection, a soundproof booth for recording, a small performance space, a new lecture theatre with assistive technologies, an enlarged children’s area, and a dedicated Makerspace. The renovation will also include flexible quiet workspaces, meeting rooms and accessible washrooms. These expansions fall in line with recent surveys and focus groups done in 2017 where the results clearly showed that the branch was excellent in customer service, but lacked in areas like facilities, the collection of books, and programs.

“For many people it’s a place to socialize with all of the clubs that are run there that are incredible both for younger people and older people alike. We offer a tech support program County-wide where you can schedule a technician to come to any one of the library branches and help you with your computer. It’s all about helping people stay connected. There’s also the online library which is important for people with accessibility issues,” says Alexandra Bake, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, who organizes a team of eight volunteers for the annual fundraising efforts.

So far, $1.2 million have been raised through bequests, donations, efforts of the Friends of the Picton Library, a Parrott Foundation Grant and a County council investment. But the expansion will require $2 million, so the remaining $800,000 is hoped to be raised through the Time to Renew campaign and they will get there not by a handful of large donations, but by many small donations spread out over a year throughout their extensive community initiatives.

“We wanted to make sure the public knew that for the library, every dollar counts when fundraising, no matter how big or how small. A donation of $20 is always appreciated. Everything is free here at the library and we make all our programming happen with no cost to the public. Anyone can be a member so anything that a patron can afford is welcome,” says Bake.

Look for construction to start on the Picton Library project by mid-2019.

Currently the libraries are hosting their summer children’s programs, hosting things like Art in Motion, Dancing Through the Eras and Able Kids Camp where kids can learn how to code and create games, applications, programs and more. Every week all summer there is also Toddler Time, which is a parent-child drop-in Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The Wellington Branch Library will also be participating in the upcoming Wellington Water Week by hosting daily events from August 28 to August 31.