Advertisement 1

Your library – A home away from home

Article content

In this, the first monthly article from the Friends of the Library in Delhi, with mixed emotions we announce the retirement of Kim Freeman at the end of this month after 30 years’ service in the Norfolk County Public Library.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

We will miss her sunny smile and enthusiasm but wish her a happy, healthy and lengthy retirement.

Do plan to attend the party in the Delhi Branch on Friday, May 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. to honour Kim. Cake and refreshments will be served.

Article content

Our beautiful new branch, opened in January 2018, is becoming a home away from home for more and more people. Branch traffic has doubled since the grand opening and folks are making good use of the conversation areas, study rooms and children’s corners. The open central room is bright and cheery and you can be sure of a warm welcome as you enter. People still tell me they have not yet visited. If you haven’t, drop in and see it. It’s a beautiful facility.

The Norfolk County Public Library is struggling with the fallout from the April 11 Provincial Budget, which removed provincial funding for interlibrary lending. We can no longer request materials from other library systems in Ontario although materials can still be requested from other branches in Norfolk; we have our own internal delivery system.

Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

Last year, the Norfolk County Public Library made 2,200 requests and responded to about 1,700 requests. We requested large-print books, books on CD and DVDs that we do not have in Norfolk. Now we cannot provide these services.

An on-line petition has been set up on change.org. Just Google “petition – stop the library cuts” to find it.

The petition currently has more than 55,500 signatures.

Express your concern by adding your signature or contacting Toby Barrett MPP.

Check the front desk for the new note cards now available in sets of six or singly. They feature pictures of Delhi Branch over the years, including the original small Church Street building.

A book and bake sale is being planned for June 15 during Strawberry Fest and a garden party on June 29 for which tickets (only 50!) are now on sale at the front counter.

As part of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, the Norfolk Public Library has initiated the One Novel, One Norfolk program aimed to unify all Norfolk residents through literature. The featured book “Motorcycles & Sweetgrass” by Drew Hayden Taylor can be borrowed or digitally downloaded through any branch or purchased at Cole’s in the Simcoe Town Centre.

On Friday, June 22 at 2 p.m. Drew will give a reading at Waterford Town Hall. The One Novel, One Norfolk booklet lists all the events associated with this program.

Look for more library news next month.

Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers