The Bruce County Public Library’s annual report says its big highlight this year was creating a mobile library through the bookmobile.
Board Chair Mark Goetz says in the report, “The new Bookmobile improves service equity and offers greater access to literature and information resources by visiting underserved residents throughout Bruce County.”
The report says the library’s 17 branches had over 212,000 visits. The library has 22,749 cardholders. In 2023, 379,786 items were borrowed. 118,332 e-books and audiobooks were borrowed. The Library says it offered 2,080 programs which had 25,477 attendees.
The library’s summer reading club also had its highest participation ever with 20 per cent more children reading for 30 more minutes. 549 members took part in the club.
The library continued to offer teen book boxes, which offers a book to keep, a book to return, and themed snacks and activities.
In partnership Saugeen First Nation, the library says it worked to raise awareness of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls through a project that showcased 20 handmade ribbon skirts.
It also started a seed library, with 600 packages of seeds being picked up by library members.
Five Cricut machines were introduced for use. A Cricut is a cutting machine that is used in crafts and can cost a person hundreds of dollars if they were to buy one.
Goetz says, “During these challenging economic times, BCPL resources and programming remain free of charge ensuring that everyone can participate.”
The Bruce County Public Library has branches in Cargill, Chesley, Kincardine, Lion’s Head, Lucknow, Mildmay, Paisley, Port Elgin, Ripley, Sauble Beach, Southampton, Tara, Teeswater, Tiverton, Tobermory, Walkerton, and Wiarton.
Image from annual report
