The role of libraries across Canada is changing, and Huntsville’s library is no different. It’s still a source for books, of course, but it’s much more than that. October, Canadian Library Month, and specifically October 17-22 which is Ontario Library Week, is a time to celebrate what our library does for our community.
“Canadian Library Month is a great opportunity for us to celebrate all of the great partnerships we have in the community and spread the word on what’s available (at the library),” said Deborah Duce, Huntsville Public LIbrary’s CEO and Chief Librarian. “When we talk to people in the community about everything we do, often they’ll say ‘I didn’t know that’.”
Two annual library month initiatives are back: the Scruffy Card Contest with the holder of the scruffiest library card winning a prize, and Food for Fines which credits overdue library accounts one dollar for each non-perishable food item brought in for The Table Food Bank.
For Ontario Library Week, the library has partnered with the Muskoka Biz Series (Muskoka Small Business Week is also this week) to offer the Youth Tech Extravaganza. More than 300 people came out for the two-hour event last year, said Duce. The library’s Teen Tech Andrew Johnston and volunteers will be on hand to share tech gadgets like 3Doodler Starts, Cubelets, Sphero, augmented reality colouring, the Library’s 3D printer, and photos with the green screen. The Hoya Robotics team will even be there with robot Valkyrie.
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- Food for Fines is off to a great start with each donation erasing $1 from a patrons overdue fines
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- Video games are part of the fun at the Youth Tech Extravaganza (Photo: Huntsville Public Library)
Other events this month include special guest readers for preschool story time and a special presentation from British Home Child Group International. Check the library’s website for dates and times.
How you can support your library
One of the best ways to support the library, says Duce, is to let your local councillor know how important the library is in your life and what a great resource it is.
“Our biggest supporter is the Town of Huntsville – they provide the majority of our budget,” says Duce. Heading into the Town’s 2017 budget deliberations the library has requested an increase to its collection development budget. “We haven’t had an increase in that area for a few years.”
Fast forward to the “library of everything”
What will Huntsville’s library look like in the future? That depends, in part, on you. The library’s board of directors and staff want to know what you most want from your library so that they can adapt for the future.
Libraries really are changing. I love that they are dynamic instead of stagnant.
Deborah Duce, Huntsville Public Library CEO and Chief Librarian
“We really want to know from those people who don’t use the library, why is it you don’t use the library. Is it because you don’t have time to get there, you don’t know what we do, you have transportation challenges?” says Duce. “And what do you really want? Do you need appliances, devices, things like that. A lot of libraries are opening the library of everything where you can sign out a Cuisinart or a power tool. North Bay Public Library has over 100 baking pans you can sign out.”
Other suggestions for a local ‘library of everything’ that came out of a recent community session included instrument lending, an outdoor reading space, a cafe, increased Canadian content, and a youth zone.
It’s not too late to add your input, says Duce. You can access the library’s survey here.
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