As an arm of the municipal government that's marking a half-century this year, the Halton Hills Public Library (HHPL) is also celebrating 50 years of existence.
When Georgetown and Acton were joined together to form the Town of Halton Hills in 1974, so too were their individual library systems.
At the time, it lived up to the popular imagination of a library - a serious place of books, research and not much else. The inaugural board of the '70s likely wouldn’t recognize their institution today, but they would see that its welcoming, people-facing spirit has evolved to meet local needs with agility.
“Libraries have always offered something to help people belong to it. Bibliotherapy is what they call it,” said Community Librarian Andrea Arsenault.
“As the libraries became more of a place for people to come hang out - a third place, as it were - I think it became an extension of that.”
The institution has embraced the “library of things” idea, where people can sign out items that they may need in daily life. Its special collections live up to the model, offering un-library-like items such as bike locks, sports equipment or mobile hotspots.
Much like the Town’s Youth Centres, the library is a safety net of sorts. People whose family members are suffering from dementia can sign out cognitive care kits to keep their minds sharp. Seniors’ fitness kits are also offered.
Outside the special collections, older adults can renew their driver's licences, purchase ActiVan tickets and have library materials delivered to their homes.
Younger adults who don’t have access to WiFi or a computer often job hunt in the library.
Youths can join and socialize at the Anime Club.
"Our Teen Advisory Council started giving them a voice in the community so they can offer their opinions and build services at the library," said Jodie Mandarino, manager of community engagement.
Creatives, young and old, can explore their innovative side in the HHPL’s Creativity Centre. A 3D printer and Cricut Maker help make little works of art. Small businesses can book product photography sessions. Those who want to learn creative crafts can also take free online arts and crafts lessons with Creativebug.
“Even when I first started working here, people didn’t have Internet access at home,” Chief Librarian Beverley King said.
“But meeting those community needs was no different [back then]. I think there is just more to offer now.”
Among the newer services offered by the HHPL is programming for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, including the Rainbow Film Series it runs at the John Elliott Theatre.
"We feel obviously the library is a welcoming space for everyone, but we had noticed kind of a gap in 2SLGBTQIA+-focused programming specifically for youth and adults outside of Pride Month,” said Youth Services Librarian Emma Lupinacci said.
She added: “The library is now kind of a community hub. So it's that space where people can congregate, they can gather, they can hang out with friends and just feel really seen within their community.”
Community Development Halton's 2017 report on community hubs explains these spaces are "place-based, providing a central location that offers a wide range of needed, integrated and interrelated health and social service as well as offering cultural, recreational, and green spaces for all community members.”
It further states that they are "built to be multipurpose."
The Ontario Municipal Social Services Association's 2015 report found many benefits to creating community hubs.
"Community hubs help build a sense of community and contribute to the social and economic well-being of its residents," says the report. "They are a catalyst to bring people together, both residents and agencies within and outside the community."
