Peggy Revell
The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is ready to blow out the first candle on its birthday cake to celebrate its one-year anniversary.
And with numbers rolling in for library usage since last June, the new building appears to be a hit with the public.
“In our first year, our computer use was 13,692, which was a 46 percent increase over last year,” noted chief librarian and CEO Margaret Sedgwick.
“Our book and magazine audio books and DVDs have seen an increase,” she added.
“We’ve had 173,640 items circulate, an increase by 12.5 percent.”
As well, the public library has signed up 600 new members while program attendance was 2,634, Sedgwick said.
For instance, the “gate count” showed 9,607 people entering the library in March, 9,822 in April, and 9,476 in May.
“Circulation statistics don’t show everything but our gate count does,” Sedgwick explained. “When we have, say, 9,706 people coming through in one month, that speaks volumes.
“It isn’t just about the number of books being checked out, or the number of DVDs,” she stressed. “It’s the people that are sitting, using the lounges, and just relaxing in the library.”
Sedgwick also noted it’s people of all ages who have been using the facilities.
“[The numbers] encourage me greatly,” said library board chair Joyce Cunningham.
“We were always told right from the very beginning of this project ‘build it and they will come,’ and that has definitely proven to be true.
“What we’re seeing is what we hoped to see; that the library is on the road to becoming the hub—an important hub— in the community,” Cunningham added.
To mark the library’s first anniversary, an open house will be held next Tuesday (June 21) from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., complete with refreshments.
“I’ve been coming a couple times a week to take advantage of the ‘Mother Goose‘ and ‘Storytime’ programs,” said Angela Mitchelson.
While she noted the program quality is the same as what was
offered at the old location, it’s now in a newer venue with more things to offer.
“It gives us an opportunity to meet up with other people and connect,” Mitchelson added.
“There’s something for everybody,” echoed Melissa Gushulak, who comes with her young family a couple of times a week for the “Storytime” program and utilizes both parts of the library.
“It’s obviously for all ages,” she remarked, pointing to the play area that has been set up in the children’s section, where the youngest kids now can play so they don’t distract the older ones during “Storytime.”
One of Gushulak’s favourite parts is the accessibility of the new building. Now that the library is all on one level, she said it’s easier for parents with strollers or those in wheelchairs to use it.
Sedgwick said there’s “so many favourites” when it comes to being at the new location.
“It’s such a nice feeling, and to see everybody’s faces when they walk through the door for the first time,” she enthused, noting there even have been tourists and people bringing family members through to show off the library.
“Even the architect, when he was here for his final round, said, ‘This is a building that you’re not going to get tired of, are you?’” Sedgwick recalled.
“There’s such a good feeling in the building.”
One of her favourite parts about the building are the display shelves which can be moved aside, allowing for various events to be staged, such as the community orchestra playing or the “Royal Wedding Tea” held earlier this year.
“I love to see all the parents and grandparents just hanging out for the morning or the afternoon in the children’s department, really making use of the facilities,” Sedgwick said.
“And another favourite part of the year is seeing people in wheelchairs and scooters coming in and having an accessible library.
“That’s kind of heart-warming.”
Having worked for 15 years to push for a new library built here, Cunningham said she knows why she did it every time she walks in the door.
“It is becoming what we dreamed it could be,” she reasoned.
“Having said that, we know that there’s much more that will be developed in the whole area of the technology, the opportunities for development there are extremely exciting,” Cunningham added.
“For the business community, for social groups, for individuals, we see that as moving forward significantly in the next year.”
Sedgwick agreed the years ahead will see the library continue to grow in the services it can provide to the community.
“What we’d really like to work on in the next year is our videoconferencing and our webconferencing capabilities, using them to their fullest,” she remarked.
“Right now they are being used, but I think there’s potential for more use.”
Instead of local residents having to travel to Toronto, paying the costs for airfare and accommodations, meetings could be arranged using the library’s videoconferencing equipment, Sedgwick noted.
Right now, they’re working with the Newmarket Public Library, which also has videoconferencing equipment to plan some joint programs.
This could mean if Newmarket has things like children’s performers, this performance could be broadcast to Fort Frances.
“And we’re thinking of videoconferencing some of our IT programs to Newmarket,” added Sedgwick. “So that’s kind of exciting.”
