As the leaves hesitantly change colours to match the palette of fall, I find myself writing my final moment of this summer. It is without doubt that I left my favourite moment for last.
Francis Bacon once said that “Knowledge is Power” and from that I find it appropriate to assume that a place that provides such knowledge to the public is extremely powerful and absolutely essential to our town.
It is a place where shelves are filled with books instead of consumer goods, a place where price tags don’t exist and nothing is too expensive to enjoy. It is a place of both self learning and group learning. It is a place where everyone is welcome no matter your age, your socio-economic status, your educational background and so on.
This moment started so many years ago for me. It started as far back as I can remember. I cannot thank my parents enough for introducing me to a place of such opportunity. I can recall eagerly joining summer reading programs and spending my days with my nose in a book as I traveled to far away places and learned exciting information.
As I pursue my post secondary studies, my attachment has grown as the concept of a library has become a second home to me. This summer, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to find employment in my favourite place in Meaford; The Meaford Public Library.
The library allows for Meaford residents to have a place of solitude that operates with the purpose of providing people with the key to learning; books.
The Meaford Public Library, as we know it, was officially opened in the former post office building on July 1st 1967. It was named the “Centennial Public Library” though it has since changed title. After much renovation throughout the years, some of which was caused by the devastating flood last August, the staff of the library has worked hard to create such a beautiful atmosphere.
The library is comprised of three operational floors; the children’s department in the basement, the adult section on the main floor, and the board room and genealogy/history room on the top level. Every floor offers something extraordinary to the patrons of the library.
The development of essential literary skills in our future generations is imperative and should not be overlooked. It is essential that young children and teenagers connect with a place that allows them to find pleasure in reading. Thankfully, the Meaford Public Library has an ambitious children’s department that is run by a very exuberant coordinator.
Throughout the summer, the library runs weekly programming from the TD Summer Reading Program to Story Time Tent at McCarrol Park. These programs are educational and fun-filled for active children and teens that wish to continue learning while the doors of the school are tightly closed in the warm summer months.
As schools open their doors again, the children’s department runs weekly story times that allow young children and care givers the opportunity to bond over crafts and stories. For the first time, the library will be running a weekly program that allows for teens to study in a quiet atmosphere and have access to laptops, wifi, and printers. There are also fun craft days that are held throughout the year which apply to special holidays.
The adult department of the library will also be busy with many educational programs this fall. The friendly staff has worked diligently to prepare programs that are informative and relevant for the residents of Meaford.
A program on will and estate planning will run on October 26th at 6:30pm at the library. No registration is required for this event and it is free of charge. In conjunction with the O.P.P., the library and Constable Sewell will host Drive Wise, a driving program specifically for mature adults. This program will take place on October 27th at 1pm. Preregistration is required and the event is also free of charge. Please call 519-538-1060 x 1123 if you wish to obtain more information on these programs.
The very talented Technical Service Manager, Marion Mower has worked hard to handcraft an absolutely breathtaking quilt. The proceeds of the tickets help support the library and are being sold at the main circulation desk. The draw will take place on October 20th when one lucky winner will be fortunate enough to win such a fantastic quilt.
The Meaford Public library is striving to meet the new accessibility laws within the next ten years that declare our current library to be inaccessible and thus incapable of operating when the laws are in effect. The library hopes to find a new location that will be accessible to the entire population so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of such a spectacular place.
I would like to extend many thanks to the staff of the Meaford Public Library for not only teaching me technicalities of this field, but also the absolute importance and beauty of the library.
The library has so many services to offer including book loans, CDs, DVDs, books on tape, inter-library loans, wireless internet, computer access, many fund-raising events and educational programs.
There are very few things in life that are priceless, but there are even less that are priceless and of no expense to you. The library is one of those priceless things that should not be taken for granted.
A life-long resident of Meaford, Stephanie Rennie loves to live in and write about the community of Meaford. Stephanie is working in the Children’s Department of the Meaford Public Library this summer. In the fall she will be completing the final year of a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History at the University of Guelph.
Stephanie is the Assistant Editor for The Meaford Independent.
