Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library is the public library of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario
, Canada
, and is located in Stouffville.
, and for a time was located in the old Municipal Building (today The Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park). It held 793 volumes in the early 1880s, 1009 volumes in 1884, and more than 2,500 in 1895.
It became a free public library
in 1899. The first permanent library was built in 1923 at 7 Main Street East, through a $6000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation
and the generosity of many local donors. The Carnegie Library could hold between 5,000 and 7,000 volumes; in 1923 it had 5,495 volumes; in 1947, 7,246 volumes; and in 1964 approximately 5,000 volumes (the town's population in 1923 was under 2000; at amalgamation in 1971, Stouffville proper had a population of 5,036). The Library moved to a 5000 square feet (465 m²) storefront in 1974 and then to a $360,000 new building at 6240 Main Street in 1977. The library celebrated its 100th birthday on February 17, 1999. The Lebovic Leisure Centre was constructed in 2001 at 30 Burkholder Street, a facility now occupied jointly by the department of Leisure Services and the library.
The population of Whitchurch-Stouffville grew 50% between 2006 and 2011, from 24,390 residents to approximately 38,500. Correspondingly, the library's annual circulation also increased, from 104,998 items in 2005 to 183,915 in 2009. Library funding as a percentage of the town operating budget declined from 5.1% in 2004 to 3.0% in 2007, and to 2% in 2011. Total expenditure increased from about $770,000 in 2004 to about $1,000,000 in 2011. A consultants' report on Ontario municipalities prepared in 2010 ranked Whitchurch-Stouffville ninth of eleven Ontario communities in its population category for per capita library spending (based on 2009 data). In 2011, the library found it necessary to cover basic library operating costs from the proceeds from its annual community book sale.
The library will serve a projected a town population of 42,343 in 2013; 53,321 in 2021; and 62,321 in 2026. An expansion of the library facility has been planned, but continually postponed; the town's 2009 capital budget called for the design work in 2011 and the construction in 2010, the 2010 budget for design work in 2013 and construction in 2014, the 2011 budget for design in 2014 and construction in 2015. In June 2011 local book clubs and individuals began a grass-roots campaign to petition for greater municipal funding for the public library.
Children’s Services
The Library has a wide array of programs and services for children. Free programs include story times on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings and Monday evenings, and movies on PA days and holidays. The Library runs programs and activities throughout the week of March Break and has a summer reading program. Craft programs, phonics classes, Baby Goose, and Mother Goose on the Loose are available for a nominal fee. All children’s computers are equipped with Encarta for Kids and Microsoft Office. Resources include a wide selection of books, graphic novels, talking books, compact discs, DVDs, and e-books.
Community Space
The library has a quiet magazine area for browsing periodicals or daily newspapers. There are comfortable chairs by a fireplace to encourage leisure reading and relaxation. Three rooms are available for small meetings and training sessions. The Library offers free wireless internet
access throughout the building.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and is located in Stouffville.
Mission statement
"The Whitchurch–Stouffville Public Library serves the members of the public in their leisure, informational, and cultural quests and provides a community place for the sharing of their creativity, their joy of reading, and their life-long learning interests."History
The Whitchurch–Stouffville Public Library traces its heritage to 1877 when it was first established in Allan’s Jewellery Store. A key promoter was J. Wideman, the editor of the local newspaper, the Alert. The library was known as the Mechanics' InstituteMechanics' Institutes
Historically, Mechanics' Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men...
, and for a time was located in the old Municipal Building (today The Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park). It held 793 volumes in the early 1880s, 1009 volumes in 1884, and more than 2,500 in 1895.
It became a free public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
in 1899. The first permanent library was built in 1923 at 7 Main Street East, through a $6000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
and the generosity of many local donors. The Carnegie Library could hold between 5,000 and 7,000 volumes; in 1923 it had 5,495 volumes; in 1947, 7,246 volumes; and in 1964 approximately 5,000 volumes (the town's population in 1923 was under 2000; at amalgamation in 1971, Stouffville proper had a population of 5,036). The Library moved to a 5000 square feet (465 m²) storefront in 1974 and then to a $360,000 new building at 6240 Main Street in 1977. The library celebrated its 100th birthday on February 17, 1999. The Lebovic Leisure Centre was constructed in 2001 at 30 Burkholder Street, a facility now occupied jointly by the department of Leisure Services and the library.
The population of Whitchurch-Stouffville grew 50% between 2006 and 2011, from 24,390 residents to approximately 38,500. Correspondingly, the library's annual circulation also increased, from 104,998 items in 2005 to 183,915 in 2009. Library funding as a percentage of the town operating budget declined from 5.1% in 2004 to 3.0% in 2007, and to 2% in 2011. Total expenditure increased from about $770,000 in 2004 to about $1,000,000 in 2011. A consultants' report on Ontario municipalities prepared in 2010 ranked Whitchurch-Stouffville ninth of eleven Ontario communities in its population category for per capita library spending (based on 2009 data). In 2011, the library found it necessary to cover basic library operating costs from the proceeds from its annual community book sale.
The library will serve a projected a town population of 42,343 in 2013; 53,321 in 2021; and 62,321 in 2026. An expansion of the library facility has been planned, but continually postponed; the town's 2009 capital budget called for the design work in 2011 and the construction in 2010, the 2010 budget for design work in 2013 and construction in 2014, the 2011 budget for design in 2014 and construction in 2015. In June 2011 local book clubs and individuals began a grass-roots campaign to petition for greater municipal funding for the public library.
Services
The Whitchurch–Stouffville Public Library offers library services, collections, access to technology and programs. It attracted more than 1,900 new members in 2010 and has over 20,000 active card holders. More than 57% of the community belongs to the Library. Circulation of materials was over 200,000 , an increase of more than 12% over 2009.Children’s Services
The Library has a wide array of programs and services for children. Free programs include story times on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings and Monday evenings, and movies on PA days and holidays. The Library runs programs and activities throughout the week of March Break and has a summer reading program. Craft programs, phonics classes, Baby Goose, and Mother Goose on the Loose are available for a nominal fee. All children’s computers are equipped with Encarta for Kids and Microsoft Office. Resources include a wide selection of books, graphic novels, talking books, compact discs, DVDs, and e-books.
Community Space
The library has a quiet magazine area for browsing periodicals or daily newspapers. There are comfortable chairs by a fireplace to encourage leisure reading and relaxation. Three rooms are available for small meetings and training sessions. The Library offers free wireless internet
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
access throughout the building.