The Friends of the Library meet from 7-9pm. on the third Wednesday of most months, except July and August.

2012 dates would be as follows:

Wednesday, February 15 – Board Room
Wednesday, March 21 – Board Room
Wednesday, April 18 – Children’s Program Room 2
Wednesday, May 16 – Board Room
Wednesday, June 20 – Board Room
Wednesday, September 19 – Board Room
Wednesday, October 19 – Board Room
Wednesday, November 17 – Board Room
Wednesday, December 12 (second week) – Board Room
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 – Board Room
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 – AGM, in Auditorium from 6-9pm

There will be a brief business meeting during which the slate of officers for the coming two years will be proposed.

This year we have two speakers:  Janice Koullas, Director of  Service Planning and Development, Oakville Public Library, and Pearl Ranju, Director of Digital Access and Development, Oakville Public Library, who will present “The Future of the Oakville Library System.”

This will be followed by a reception.

Please help us to maintain and support the library service which Oakvillians now receive. We are starting a write-in campaign (by email) to Town Councilors. We ask that you give us a few minutes of your time and email your own ward representative to say that you (as a library user) do NOT wish to see the service truncated. If you could nudge 10 of your friends to do the same, we would be very grateful.

In times of economic downturn, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries has data that shows library use goes up. (http://fopl.ca/news/uncertain-economic-times/)
The library has a traditional role.

You may wish to mention the reasons for keeping the libraries open and the service at to-day’s level. Several are as follows:

• Looking for Leisure time? Oakville Public Library lends books, magazines, talking books, CDs and DVDs (no Blockbuster) As well, those fortunate enough to own an e-reader can download for free any book from the library’s holdings of over 400,000 titles.
• Looking for a job? The library has many resources (books, databases) that you can access.
• Looking for skill’s improvement? The library provides free, one-on-one tech coaching and other hands-on learning workshops on a variety of topics, plus exciting programs and events for all ages.
• New Immigrants: The library provides a variety of programs for immigrants to Canada, including job help and ESL, in partnership with local agencies.
• Community Information: Oakville Public Library has an area dedicated to information about community activities, including free newspapers, Folio, and booklet describing the season’s events @your library.
• Community Activities: At each branch, the library provides a variety of venues which host community activities for a very small fee. There are many activities at each branch for all ages which are very well attended.

The library is apolitical and non-denominational and it serves the whole spectrum of age groups in the community: pre-reading activities, many children’s programme, teen-age meeting places (they even have a teenage advisory committee), adult book club kits, on-line book club discussions, and a book delivery service for those who are unable to visit a library branch.

We understand that this not a good economic time, but this is a very valuable service to everyone in the community. Please help us show the Councilors that we in Oakville value our top-notch library services and do not wish them cut!

On behalf of the Friends of the Oakville Public Library Executive Board,

Maureen E Rudzik,
Chair of the Friends of the Library