Last evening Pickering Library CEO, Cathy Grant was honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
In delivering the award, local MP Chris Alexander cited the excellence of the Pickering Library System as the reason for the award, saying that the library is “one of the best in the country and maybe one of the best in the world”.
Cathy shares the award with staff citing their commitment to excellence and innovation to meet the evolving needs of the community.
The Pickering Public Library would like to thank Parkway Retirement Residence and Pickering City Centre (both affiliated with Chartwell Retirement Residences) for their generous donation of a book club set for the Library’s new Book Club Set service.
Read more about these exciting new Book Club Sets.
Thank you to everyone who came out on Sunday April 21st to enjoy an afternoon of music and refreshments with classical pianist Barry Clark, jazz pianist Peter Dupuy, and vocalist Victoria McWilliams, photographed at above.
On Tuesday April 2nd, the Pickering Township Historical Society presented the Library with a gift of art, artifacts and documents pertaining to the history of Pickering from the associations collection. On hand to accept the donation from John Sabean, President of the PTHS were Cathy Grant, CEO and Becky George, Local History Librarian. Also present were Chris Alexander, Member of Parliament, and members of the Pickering Library Board Councillor Doug Dickerson and Shirley Van Steen.
This presentation was part of the Archive Awareness Week.
Pickering Public Library would like to thank the generosity of the IODE Bridlewood Chapter who presented a cheque for $1500 to the Library's Summer Reading Club Program.
In the photograph above with Cathy Grant, CEO Pickering Public Library and Sarah West, Children's Librarian from left to right are Mary K. Anderson, Kerry Strathdee (President), Margo MacKinnon, Catherine Searles, and Brenda Kinnear.
On Saturday, February 23rd, Pickering Public Library again participated in the annual Heritage Days at the Pickering Town Centre. This event highlights cultural and community organizations in our city with fun and lively, is hosted by the Pickering Advisory Committee on Diversity.
On Wednesday, February 27th, Library staff were wearing Pink shirts to show our support for Pink Shirt Day, and will be making some noise against bullying!
This national campaign, we encourage everyone to wear something pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere; see more at www.pinkshirtday.ca. Please go to our Facebook Page to see more photographs from the day.
During January and February, Pickering families have been having fun with the Family Math program run by the Ontario Early Years Centre of Pickering. This program's goals are to educate parents to work and play with their children in order to develop positive attitudes towards mathematics.
From the everyday to the extraordinary, discover more about Pickering’s heritage and become inspired to make your own mark on our community. View an assortment of images and books from the Local History Collection on display in the lobby of the Central Library for the month of February. Learn more by exploring the Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive online at www.pada.ca or speak with our Local History & Genealogy Librarian, Becky George.
Congratulations to Pickering Public Library staff member, Lorna, who was the winner of $500.00 of materials for Pickering Library through CVS Midwest colouring contest. Lorna competed against staff from many library systems to bring home the big prize.
Tom Reed, President of the Rotary Club of Pickering, is featured with two happy clients at the Petticoat Creek Branch’s new family literacy workstation. This workstation was added through a donation from our local Rotary Club and as you can see it is greatly appreciated by the youngest members of our community.
Pickering Public Library staff were delighted to celebrate the Tamil Heritage Month with the Tamil Cultural & Academic Society of Durham and to receive their new TCASD newsletter.
Here's our winner of the Kobo eReader, Deborah Gurash with Kathy Williams, the Library's Director of Public Services. Congratulations once again Deborah! Happy holidays from your library.
Mayor Ryan presents Deputy Mayor and Library Board Member, Doug Dickerson and Library Board Chair, John Sabean, with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals – awarded for significant contributions to their community, Thursday, December 13th.
Congratulations!
Linda, from Children's Services and Becky, Local History Librarian, entertained Pickering Museum visitors to the Christmas in the Village, Winter in the Woods, Sunday, December 9th.
Over the next few weeks, Pickering Public Library will be making improvements to your borrowing experience. One of the more noticable changes will be new Self Check Out kiosks. Kathy Linkletter and Max Robinson, pictured here, were our first two clients who used the new kiosks at the Petticoat Creek Branch.
The following was originally posted by Cathy Grant, CEO of the Pickering Public Library, on her blog, cathygrant, November 2nd. Cathy can also be followed on twitter at cathygrant
At several recent presentations, Pickering Library Staff and Library Board members have spoken of the value of public libraries in the community. The talk was of return on investment, triple bottom lines, secondary economic impacts and social return on investments - all of which show that when a community invests in a public library they get out much more than what they pay in.
This is the language of our funders and is what taxpayers are paying attention to right now (as well they should). What is missing from a pure economic analysis of the value of libraries is the human equation - the stories of the value of libraries to individuals and families. I would like to share with you the story of what libraries have meant to me:
The following was originally posted by Cathy Grant, CEO of the Pickering Public Library, on her blog, cathygrant, September 26th. Cathy can also be followed on twitter at cathygrant
"Libraries have know of this for years and have invested heavily in summer reading programs. In Pickering, well over 1,000 kids and their parents commit themselves to learning and reading over the summer." - Pickering Public Library CEO, Cathy Grant"
A wonderful time was had by all at Central Library Seniors Day event. Thanks to Kathy Zaremba, owner of Felicity-So much for the presentation providing information to seniors on the first step of moving: thinking about moving in the future and figuring out where to start.
Congratulations to our City of Pickering 2012 Battle of the Book Champions, William Dunbar Public School (Junior Battle of the Books) and Highbush Public School (Senior Battle of the Books).
It was another great year for the competition. Great work everyone, students, Teacher-Coaches and parents of the participants. Hope to see everyone back next year!!
