Southern Ontario Library Service

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Amalgamation/Post-Amalgamation Issues

Brant County ‑ struggling with the aftermath of amalgamation. Two of their branches are in buildings that have been condemned.
Kawartha Lakes – province ruled against de-amalgamation.
Lambton County - library is restructuring as part of the County's reorganization initiative. They have 27 branches, and are looking to create 9 service areas.
Ottawa - since amalgamation circulation has increased by 27%; contributing factor seems to be automated self-check-out system in some branches.

Fort Erie – library seen as central activity location for kids and adults in the community.
Ottawa – Councilor/Board chair Rick Chiarelli has been promoting Trustee Advocacy Work to take advantage of Ottawa political connections in the Ontario legislature; OLA has posted a number of lobbying resources on its website.

Bruce County - received a 5% increase in the library budget, with the biggest increase going to the book budget; Board member accompanied the CEO when he made his budget presentation.
Burlington – Council approved both Capital ($201,300) and Operating (6.99% increase and 3% economic adjustment as of April 1) budgets.
Kawartha Lakes – no money for collections – cut equivalent to book budget.
Kitchener - $50,000 reduction in budget but $8,000,000 approved for new library in 10-year Capital budget.
Niagara Falls – budget not known yet this year; there has been no money for books since the end of March; new Mayor is holding Town Hall meetings.
North Grenville – faced with budget cutbacks that threatened the loss of essential services, library supporters lobbied the council and were able to get a budget increase for the library, whereas all other community groups were cut; library has not been included in the plans for a community complex.
Ottawa - library suffered only a $200,000 reduction in the City’s budget reduction exercise.
Owen Sound - budget was flat-lined except for collections. which were given a $10,000 boost (money that was lost from the materials budget a few years ago); one township, part of the Union Library, is opposing the increase; a very hot, controversial issue right now, yet to be resolved; the Union Library contract requires the support of 75% of other municipalities to increase the library budget.
Pembroke – roof has a leak and needs $6,000 repair; will ask Council to establish a capital maintenance reserve in order to put away money for future repairs.
Southgate - being asked to cut 10% from the budget – nowhere to cut; Board making presentation to Council.
SDG County - during the winter, the Board attempted to close 4 branches to reduce costs.  There was so much public support generated in each of the small communities that the closures have been put on hold.
Waterloo - asking for a 13% increase; using the fact that Waterloo is the lowest funded library of its size in Canada to persuade Council.
Whitby – encountered resistance from municipality on increase in operating.
Whitchurch-Stoufffville – painful budget process – using reserves for operations; cut in personnel and acquisitions; facing doubling in population.
Woodstock ‑ submitted a budget requesting a sizeable increase but are expecting some cutbacks.

 Meaford - celebrating 150^th anniversary; using the opportunity to raise awareness about the library with lots of exciting programs and activities.
Hanover - celebrating its centennial – the library is launching a campaign to get donations from people coming home for the centennial.

Meaford - broke all previous circulation records in 2003.
Owen Sound - circulation has risen dramatically since the renovations of the library.
Waterloo - Library use and demand reached an all-time high in 2003, with nearly a million items borrowed in the course of a year.

Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Waterloo Regional Library - One Book One Community is in its 3^rd year; this year’s title is Nino Ricci’s Lives of the Saints. One of the special events is a bus tour to Leamington, the author’s hometown, to explore how the area has influenced his writing; hoping to achieve 10,000 readers this year! 
Pembroke –CEO is proactive in community library connections: Library staff have gone to do readings in schools; “Prom Night” held for teens with ladies’ wear and menswear representatives from local businesses; Purvis Gallery hangs paintings in the library and local artist will paint a mural in the children’s section; during Winter Carnival, library held a hot chocolate and story time for families and are planning to set up community café in library.
Welland – French Genealogy Society may move their collection to the library.

L.E. Shore - board has established a Maintenance Reserve Fund to address major future maintenance costs; life expectancy of major items, such as roofing, heating, windows, etc. has been appraised as part of the projections; the Town is interested in expanding it to include all municipal buildings.
Meaford - space continues to be a difficult issue; cannot use the 3^rd floor for computer space because there is no fire exit.
Norfolk ‑ Still struggling with space issues in the Simcoe branch; looking at a new building for Port Dover, which has been included in their capital projections; planning for this within the next few years.
Oxford County ‑ is upgrading and rebuilding many of its branches, some in partnership with other services; Plattsville branch is housed in a school, and the new Thamesford branch shares space with Community Policing.
Richmond Hill – expanding Children’s Department at Central.
St. Catharines – completed $1,000,000 HVAC project.
St. Thomas ‑ hoping to revitalize the library building, and are preparing for some resistance due to the cost.

Ajax – new library was made possible due to the efforts of Friends group; municipal population is expected to double in the next 15 years.
Brock Township – gathering momentum on new Beaverton branch and combined facilities.
Bruce County - board working with a couple of municipalities regarding facilities improvements.
Burlington – central library under re-construction in a huge, joint project with the City includes updates to Central Park, increase from 47,000 to 64,00 square feet, more parking, improved access , greatly enlarged children’s area, café and  landscaping to preserve Rose Garden; scheduled to open in Spring 2005; construction also starting on new Tyandaga branch in community centre.
Caledon – renovations to Bolton branch.
Clarington – new Bowmanville library attached to Town Hall; looking at new facility in Newcastle combined with recreation hall.
Grimsby – new facility opened this spring with increase in circulation and usage; fundraising campaign not as successful due to competition with hospital fundraising; running on old system; there is new fibre-optic cable but no equipment to use with it.
Haldimand – new library opening this summer; $2.2 million raised.
Kitchener –new satellite branch opening in September and will break ground for new facility within two years.
L.E. Shore - Board has established a subcommittee to investigate three aspects of expansion:  the demand for additional parking; the shortage of space in the library; and the possibility of a branch to serve new large developments being planned to the east of Thornbury.
Markham – new library opening in Angus Glen connected to recreation centre.
Niagara Falls – new branch in community centre due to open in summer 2005.
Oshawa – property donated for new branch with recreation centre.
Ottawa - south central branch building project will be going ahead; branch is to be connected to the Greenboro Community Centre in Ottawa South; scheduled to begin in the spring of 2004 and be completed in the spring of 2005.
Perth - for years, the library has been in a two storey building where the second storey could only be used as a meeting room; lacking space for the collection, the library raised the money for an elevator; now using second floor as a children’s multi purpose room; part of the collection was moved upstairs as well; renovations done by volunteers.
Petawawa – involved in expansion project doubling size for cost of $1.5 million; library has to raise $250,000; two main fundraising initiatives – 1) Block of 300 tickets sold at $100 each in weekly or biweekly draws and sale of wooden book spines for $50 and ceramic for $75 with donor’s name; using Town’s lottery license;  grand opening to be held September 24^th, with public opening on Sept 25^th.
Richmond Hill – postponing the opening of branch in a school.
Waterloo - joint library task force to present to new Council by end of May; Board hopeful there will be a decision regarding expansion; too much opposition to a joint facility with Kitchener, but other partnering initiatives might be possible.
Welland – new library under construction as part of the Civic Centre (boards are invited to visit the “Watch the Library Grow” site at www.welland.library.on.ca.  Really, go and visit this site!!
West Grey - has a Carnegie needing expansion in Durham; being urged to go into the first floor of an old school that is being turned into a cultural centre
Whitby – new library  within civic hall

Trustees are encouraged to visit the library in Erin, part of a multi-purpose community facility, including high school, elementary school, daycare, police, auditorium, and medical offices

Brampton – recently celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Day; Friends group is less involved since sale tables in branches replaced Friends’ book sale; Board is trying to keep the group going.
Deep River - Friends group has held two book sales, last one raised $3,000; also hosts bridge classes as a fund raiser; planning to purchase a Powerpoint projector to be used by community and business groups.
Grand Valley - looking at starting a Friends group – a number of people have indicated interest in participating.
Front of Yonge - new Friends’ group has been started and is very active.
Ottawa - Friends of the OPL have raised $150,000 this year.
Owen Sound - working to establish Friends of the Library group.
Woodstock ‑ preparing for a large Friends book sale.

Burlington – Community part of Capital campaign launched in June; goal is $1.2 M. Community-based cabinet of business leaders and advisors; Mayor is Honourary Campaign Chair.
Ottawa – In 2002, established the Ottawa Public Library Foundation as a separate not-for-profit, charitable corporation, mandated to generate new and additional revenue. This year, it raised $12,000 through the Carp Diefenbunker Run.
Welland – Fundraising Committee received training on methods of approach in raising $500,000 for furnishings for the new library.
Whitby – donor sponsorship campaign goal is $200,000.
Whitchurch-Stouffville – book sale raised $12,300.

Aurora – beginning new organizational review.
Bonnechere - Library board is working on policies; have finished personnel policies.
Caledon – entire board new.
Clarington – only 3 of 9 old board members returning.
Fort Erie – only 3  of 9 old board members returning.
Hanover - board has been working their way through Ken Haycock’s series on community development role of the library; have found it very useful.
La Nation - new municipal councilor rep recognizes the challenge in advocating and how important it is for the library to let council know; most new Board members find it challenging to work together.
Markham – diverse board, targeting youth, university students; Board is finding Policy Governance challenging, especially Ends work.
Oshawa – all board members but one changed; spent lots of time on training and orientation.
Pembroke – Board is working on policies and strategic planning.
Smith Ennismore – Lakefield – board recommended reducing the size to 7 members from 9; 5 of 7 are teachers.
St. Catharines – biggest  issue is aging demographic and enormous growth in the west end; fundraising for new arena and new hospital means few funds for a new library;  reassessing the mix of branches.
Uxbridge – working on personnel policies; board lost several good members.
Waterloo Public ‑ 7 new Board members out of 10; board is looking at strategies and options to enhance budget, services, and buildings.
Welland – working on Public Internet Access Policy manual and Library Procurement policies.
Whitby – 50% turn over in board; council also increased board size to 10 members.
Whitchurch-Stoufffville – 3 of 9 board members returning.

N.B. See SOLS website for information on policy requirements under Municipal Act 2001.

Several libraries reported being eligible for HRDC funds for a Summer Student.  Two turned down the grant because the funding level remained at 50% of costs (despite lobbying to get the level to the non‑profit sector funding level of 90%).  Those libraries turned to Experience program students, which is funded by the provincial government, in the case of libraries, through the Ministry of Culture. These summer student will be primarily used in summer reading and tutoring programs.
One library is using an Ontario Works participant to undertake a study of seniors’ services in the community. Another library is using an Ontario Works participant for data entry in the automation system.  Another library is using a special HRDC grant to fund a marketing study for the library.  And yet another library is using CAP funding to have a person working in the public access Internet area of the library to assist with Internet training and to troubleshoot on the computers.
Augusta Township - library was able to install wireless Internet access with a CAP grant.
North Grenville – HDRC grant has been received to offer computer training.
Welland – received CAP grant for computer and internet training for the public; also received LSDF grant to develop a digital history of industry in town with a link to the diverse ethnic communities that settled in Welland.

Several libraries reported receiving Trillium grant which were used for shelving, furnishings, collections (large print, audio and reference), magnifiers and other accessibility equipment, and computers.  All reported sending thank you notes and were asking about another round of grants.
Augusta Township - received $10,000 which was used to develop a special needs collection and to renovate the reference and reading room.
Barry’s Bay and Area - $15,000 will go to an elevator and disabled washroom; already have $15,000 in a building reserve and trying to raise $20,000; annual Trivia Night brought in $2,000 and will hold barbecue in summer.
Bruce County - protested the handling of the Trillium grants to libraries; there was a total lack of understanding of how county systems work versus small independent libraries; one branch did receive a Trillium grant and it is being used to improve the Port Elgin branch.
Deep River - Will use grant to purchase new children’s shelving and better lighting.
Front of Yonge - received $10,000 to upgrade the collection. This has resulted in an increase in membership and circulation; also received an HDRC grant to hire a person to do the data entry for automation project.
North Perth - grant is being used to add an area of adaptive technology for the visually impaired, including large print monitor, large print books, audio materials, and the shelving and furniture to accommodate the new equipment and materials; an ABC literacy grant has led to the formation of a youth advisory group to choose new materials for the young adult collection; the CAP sustainability grant for public Internet access was used to bring wireless connectivity to the two smaller branches; an LSDF grant from the Ministry of Culture resulted in the library adding the Blue Spruce literary program, with the Friends group continuing to fund the Silver Birch.
Petawawa - $15,000 Trillium grant being used for the children’s library and a computer.
Whitewater Region - using Trillium grant to buy books and furnishings.

Niagara Falls – History collection to be digitized; visit www.nfpl.library.on.ca to see Sports Wall of Fame and pictures of the Falls.
Whitewater Region -  had two new telephone lines installed in two branches;  had to pay the Bell business rate since the branches are not open that many hours a week.

Lambton County ‑ "Genre Con" is a well received genre writing festival hosted by the library ‑ authors and publishers present workshops and displays.
Pembroke – welcomed Councilor George Hodgkinson from Laurentian Valley to the Library Board; he is also Chair of TV Ontario’s Marketing Alumni; library will have “Dudley the Dragon” from TVO on July 17^th; George can book Dudley for other libraries as well.
Whitewater Region - Included library newsletter with tax bill.

Bonnechere - talked to candidates about their support for libraries during municipal elections.
Burlington –November 2003 Quality of Service indicated 84% of respondents rated the library as the most important service; 89% indicated they used the library in the last year; 95% indicated they were very satisfied with service; working with a consultant reviewing the City’s relationship with its Local Boards; new plan for community leisure services.
Markham – hard to get councilors to let go of the day-to-day issues.
Norfolk ‑ have a new business plan in place.
Whitewater Region - gave each Council member an honorary library card.

Augusta Township - hosts the Seniors’ VON luncheon club once a month; seniors only came to the library once a month and wanted to borrow books but could not return them within the regular three week period; library instituted a special one month loan period for seniors’ visits.
Brockville - chosen as a pilot site for a tri-level initiative aimed at seniors; office is staffed part-time with a Help desk acting as a seniors’ portal to help them access government programs of all kinds.
Front of Yonge - has invited a number of guest authors and has been collaborating with the local schools in running the Red Maple and Silver Birch reading clubs;  local Heritage group is donating one book a month to the library on local history topics.
Lambton County ‑ partnered with other community groups to run a successful "Turn Off the Screens" program, focused on more family-oriented, outdoor and library activities, rather than watching television.
Laurentian Hills - successfully used Canadian Living magazine idea called “Food for Fines:” amnesty for returning overdue books (fines could be paid with food for the food bank); $400 worth of food was brought into the Chalk River Branch; also held story times in conjunction with the Family Enrichment Network.
L.E. Shore - local genealogy club is sharing the cost of installing a wireless router to provide an Internet connection in the Gallery and board room.
North Grenville – has taken up the idea of a seniors’ portal.
North Perth - local Communities in Bloom group will once again be adding to the Rotary Millenium Park in front of the Listowel Branch.
Ottawa - won an Industry Canada Innovation Award for its partnership with the University of Ottawa and Carleton University for allowing their users to have reciprocal borrowing rights.
Waterloo - offers a children’s tutoring service in partnership with Laurier’s Students for Literacy.
Whitewater Region - participated in the Health Fair at the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre; set up books and gave presentation on interlibrary loan and the Internet.

Brock Township – in pay equity study.
Grand Valley - pay equity issue is holding up the library’s budget.

Fort Erie – After-school program is strongly supported by high-school and senior elementary students who can obtain community credits tutoring and helping with homework projects.
Lambton County ‑ participating in the One Book, One Community program. Nino Ricci's novel Lives of the Saints.
Whitewater Region - will host plant sale in spring and Mary Cook program.

Aurora – Monday service now possible due to improved funding.
Brampton – 4 branches for a city of 300,000; talk of depots, satellite.
Deep River - has a “one-day loan” program; money is generated through overdue fines and have lost significant fine revenue since a drop-box was set up.
Grand Valley - patrons have indicated considerable interest in Sunday hours; hoping to add them next year, as well as standardize open hours day-to-day.
St. Catharines – huge improvement on recent service satisfaction survey; tremendous push to get more money into budget to increase the number of non-book formats.
Waterloo - entered into reciprocal borrowing agreements with Cambridge and Waterloo Regional.

Burlington – supporting staff through construction projects; new organization, compensation and library job evaluation system reviews underway.
Caledon – staff training program planned; branches will close so all staff can attend.
Middlesex – reported that a staff member was assaulted while working one evening and asked for feedback regarding what other libraries do to safeguard their staff; Middlesex adding page hours, have installed a panic button which sounds a siren in the community.
St. Thomas ‑ children's librarian was named librarian of the year.
Uxbridge – new CEO.

Aurora – Strategic Plan complete.
Clarington – finishing 5-year Strategic plan.

Several libraries reported needing more IT help within the library. For some, this is a new staff position within the library budget and is something to be "fought for" just now.
Brampton – updating automation.
Brock Township – automating collection; Internet.
Champlain (Vankleek Hill) - a small community of 8,000, now has new access to high speed Internet.
Elizabethtown-Kitley - all branches have high speed Internet access.
Killaloe - in the process of automating; half way through cataloguing the collection; used CAP grant to purchase public access computers and hired a person to give computer courses which was quite successful; have developed a library web site.
L.E. Shore - IT Plan now includes the cost of upgrades and replacements as a regular part of the library’s operating budget.
Lincoln – moving to Dynix.
St. Catharines – considering upgrading automation system.
Perth - patrons now can reserve books on-line.
St. Thomas ‑ upgrading ILS to Sirsi.
SDG County - selected Dynix Horizon as their new automated system at a cost  of $130,000.
Welland – part of Ontario Library Consortium in which one server handles 4 libraries and license cost is shared by all member libraries;  Welland and Port Colbourne libraries have merged their databases; also investigating Library Materials Security Systems.

Deep River - volunteer gardeners keep library garden looking great.
Smith Ennismore – Lakefield – volunteers pay for required police checks.

One library is starting a new "homebound service". This was a need determined by a survey of library use.
One library asked about showing local art in the library. The question was what type of loss or liability forms and arrangements do other libraries use to protect themselves in case of loss or damage?
One library asked which libraries offer benefits to their staff and at what level.  It was reported by other trustees that most do offer some level of benefits.  Several offer the same full package as the municipality offers to their staff.  The question of having library employees fall in with the "town" employees was raised.  It was pointed out that the library board is "purchasing" a benefit package for their own employees by "going in" with the town employees, and not that the town considered the library staff to be town employees.

NB: Please note that a French language governance workshop is being planned for Saturday, October 16, 2004 in Eastern Ontario only, from 9:30am to 3pm - pending confirmation