Dorset library branch transitions to depot Sept. 1
By Chad Ingram
The
Dorset branch of the Haliburton County Public Library will be converted
to a library depot effective Sept. 1, and library staff will be hosting
workshops to help residents with the transition.
Dorset branch of the Haliburton County Public Library will be converted
to a library depot effective Sept. 1, and library staff will be hosting
workshops to help residents with the transition.
For
the past couple of years, Algonquin Highlands council has been having
discussions regarding the branch, located in the township-owned Dorset
Recreation Centre. The branch, staffed just eight hours a week, had much
lower circulation numbers than other branches. The township issued a
community survey last summer, and the majority of respondents to that
survey indicated they supported turning the space where the branch had
been located into a multi-purpose community hub space.
the past couple of years, Algonquin Highlands council has been having
discussions regarding the branch, located in the township-owned Dorset
Recreation Centre. The branch, staffed just eight hours a week, had much
lower circulation numbers than other branches. The township issued a
community survey last summer, and the majority of respondents to that
survey indicated they supported turning the space where the branch had
been located into a multi-purpose community hub space.
As
of September, while a collection of books will no longer be housed at
the site, Dorset residents will still be able to place holds on and pick
up books from the library’s collection, with deliveries taking place
each Saturday.
of September, while a collection of books will no longer be housed at
the site, Dorset residents will still be able to place holds on and pick
up books from the library’s collection, with deliveries taking place
each Saturday.
“People
can place holds and pick up in Dorset, and in fact, they’ll be able to
pick up whenever they want, whenever the community centre is open,” says
library CEO Bessie Sullivan. “For some users, it will actually be an
improvement in service.”
“The collection will not be there, but the access to Haliburton County Public Library still is,” Sullivan says.
can place holds and pick up in Dorset, and in fact, they’ll be able to
pick up whenever they want, whenever the community centre is open,” says
library CEO Bessie Sullivan. “For some users, it will actually be an
improvement in service.”
“The collection will not be there, but the access to Haliburton County Public Library still is,” Sullivan says.
To assist residents with the transition, library staff will be hosting workshops in early September.
“We’ll be offering some courses to teach people how to manage their accounts online,” Sullivan says.
Those
workshops, to take place at the recreation centre, are scheduled for
Sept. 10 at 10 a.m., and Sept. 24. Sullivan says library staff can host
more as need be.
Residents can visit www.haliburtonlibrary.ca for details, or call 705-457-2241.
Sullivan
says there has been some confusion throughout the province since the
provincial government reduced funding to the Southern Ontario Library
Service this spring. Following that funding reduction, SOLS ceased its
inter-library loan system, allowing libraries throughout the province to
share books with one another. Sullivan stresses that within the county
system, books are still moved between branches.
workshops, to take place at the recreation centre, are scheduled for
Sept. 10 at 10 a.m., and Sept. 24. Sullivan says library staff can host
more as need be.
Residents can visit www.haliburtonlibrary.ca for details, or call 705-457-2241.
Sullivan
says there has been some confusion throughout the province since the
provincial government reduced funding to the Southern Ontario Library
Service this spring. Following that funding reduction, SOLS ceased its
inter-library loan system, allowing libraries throughout the province to
share books with one another. Sullivan stresses that within the county
system, books are still moved between branches.
“We’ve
come to the conclusion that a lot of people just don’t understand the
difference between inter-branch loans in a library system, and the
provincial inter-library loan,” she says. “Our users are pretty
educated, but just in case there’s any confusion, we’re still moving
materials around the county, and people can still borrow from any branch
and return to any branch. That has not changed. What has changed is our
ability to borrow things around the province, and that’s going to be up
for debate at budget time.”
come to the conclusion that a lot of people just don’t understand the
difference between inter-branch loans in a library system, and the
provincial inter-library loan,” she says. “Our users are pretty
educated, but just in case there’s any confusion, we’re still moving
materials around the county, and people can still borrow from any branch
and return to any branch. That has not changed. What has changed is our
ability to borrow things around the province, and that’s going to be up
for debate at budget time.”
When
Haliburton County council begins its 2020 budget discussions,
councillors will hear about the logistics and cost of continuing an
inter-library loan service.
Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts, who
is chair of the library board, led a county delegation to the Minister
of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Haliburton County council begins its 2020 budget discussions,
councillors will hear about the logistics and cost of continuing an
inter-library loan service.
Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts, who
is chair of the library board, led a county delegation to the Minister
of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
“Our
main message was to advocate for fair pricing for electronic and audio
books,” Roberts told the Times, but added members had also mentioned the
funding reduction to SOLS, and how it was negatively impacting rural
library systems.
