Speaker Rebecca Raven CEO of the Brampton Library - # Inspiring Connections, acknowledged the Brampton Library's connection with the RC of Brampton.
There are 7 branches and soon to be 8 branches with 4 1/4 million items borrowed and 2 million visits.
Mt Pleasant is the busiest location and the Springdale Branch received the provincial award for library architecture and is known for its energy efficient lights on the outside.
The Mobile Van is funded by the City of Brampton and travels to neigbourhoods without branches with Lego Robotics, and Ipads to encourage hands on learning for STEM. The van can go to the Go Train wait room and sign folks up for a library card and help them download a book to the commute to work.
The Brampton library system has Conversation Circles for newcomers, Knitting Circles and a Repair Cafe, where items such as small appliances, bikes, jewelry etc. are repaired. The Region of Peel measures the amount waste diverted as a result of the Repair Cafe.
The Chinguacousy Branch has fewer books in order to provide work space for homework, and offers free WIFI. Many of the users are new Canadians who are using the facilities for re-certifying in their field of work. On line newspapers from around the world number in the three hundreds.There are recording studios, and on line courses available through linda.com
Libraries are known for their role in community building and the downtown branch provided a warm spot while homeless for Jesse Thistle, who wrote From The Ashes, a story of his life.
The most amazing thing about the Brampton Library System is that it operates and offers all of the wonderful programmes on only 2 cents of every tax dollar. It is a registered charity and Nicole Hand Certified Fund -Raising Executive will help guide the Brampton Library system forward with its fund-raising needs as it transforms the downtown branch into a Centre for Innovation.