HawthorneVillager.com

So this morning I found a flyer for the new Milton Art's centre and I started looking through it. I noticed on the back that they had the sq footage for the building and noticed that over half the building was a library. This is great and all but I feel that Milton already has enough library's and creating a 2500 sq foot library in a town that already has a two seems pointless. Am I the only one who see's a library something that is outdated? Who needs 2500sq feet of books when you have google, Ibooks and the world wide web? Don't get me wrong Library's are needed (but more for small children and University students) but as technology advances, shouldn't these area's be used for more of a resource centre, where employment skills, technology training and proper internet navigation could be taught? It just seems like it’s a lot of space in a prime location that many people will not use on a regularly basis.

The current main library branch by Main and Ontario Street will be shut down once this one opens. At least, that seems to be the plan. There currently is a lot of lobbying to keep that one open as well.

Any time I go by the library it does pretty brisk business, so, I can see the current demand exceeding that main branch capacity.

Well they were planning on moving the old library on Bruce to that new centre, however I'm not sure what's happening with that anymore as there were a lot of disagreements....

But a library just isn't about the books, for me in high school and college I didn't have access to a lap top and I had to share my internet time at home with siblings so I used to frequent libraries for their computers and as a place to go and study without any interruptions. Which definitely touches on your point of having a technology centre and teaching people how to use it.
I definitely agree with your thoughts on how this space should be used.

However, I love books, and have enough to create my own library! But I really hate all this new "ebook" technology, and I would hate to see books and libraries become obsolete. But I do agree that 2700 sq ft is much more space then needed and can definitely be used in other ways.

Not everybody likes Ibooks, I pads, PlayBooks..I love sitting with a good book, move the pages and read it on my comfort chair if it is inside the house or out..not in front of a computer, not everybody likes those gadgets, and not everybody got the money to buy them. Libraries are great. and I'm looking forward for the new building to open...10 minutes walk, fantastic...(I just hope that by then they will fix the traffic lights for pedestrians there, - it stinks.)

I prefer reading an actual newspaper as opposed to online most times. Same things with books...I prefer hardcover to paperback as well.

Nothing beats a Saturday or Sunday morning, cup of coffee, and the feel and smell of a nice newspaper. Problem is I havent been able to find time on Saturday / Sunday mornings in the last 10 years to enjoy it

_________________
Mike Cluett
Local/Regional Councillor
Wards 1,6,7 & 8

Website | Email mike@mikecluett.ca | Cell (647) 888-9032 | Facebook Page | | Twitter @Mike_Cluett

+1

I agree that sitting down and opening a book on a lazy Sunday afternoon has a certain feel to it but unfortunately I think that is a dieing hobbies. I am in library's all the time and youth seem to run past the books and right for the video game section (yes tax money is being spent on the latest and greatest Xbox, Wii and Playstation 3 Titles(in Mississauga at least)). Also, the paper is discussed as being something read as well, but this is not a service that most library's offer and is usually delivered to your home. I think the question here should be, what do you use or would like to see your local library offer? I think the days where walls and walls of book used for reference are becoming less vital to our society and our library's should be used as more as a resource centre, which would not require that big of dedication to space.

Psod, may I ask what kind of research material you gain access to at the library when your not on your work site? The reason I ask is because I am having difficultly trying to figure out what could NOT be found online for work related topics that require printed information.

What are you talking about? Libraries have ALL of today's papers (Not just the one you subscribe to.) AND back issues. Plus countless magazines and their back issues.

Go to the new branch on 4th line. They've got not only books, CDs, DVD's for kids, they've got educational resources on computer for adults and kids. There's also lots of traffic for adults as well. Many of us still enjoy reading books. I don't have an I-Pad and am not interested. I read newspapers on-line, but books I find too hard on the eyes and prefer a good old paper book. It's also a great quiet place to do research using on-line and paper resources. I loved going to the library as a kid. The library also offers on-line access to various encyclopias. Not everyone can afford encylopedia britannica on-line. The services have changed and expanded since I was a kid, but I still think the provide an invaluble service to a community.

The closure of the Bruce St. library remains a hot election topic; something ward two candidates have told me they're hearing about at the doors. I've done a couple stories on it, and basically sources have told me nobody ever came forward on behalf of the library board and said: "hey, we're closing this library so we can build a big new central branch..." and then asked for the money to keep it open.

Personally, I love that library and I think it needs to stay open if they're intensifying the area around it. Putting additional people in that area and then taking away a service makes absolutely no sense at all.

Keep making it an issue guys!!

This is off the top of my head as I haven't been following the ward 2 race that closely (too much else going on). I could see the Bruce Street library closure as actually a potential solution to the St. Pauls problem. The big issue with the Bruce street location is it's just a little too close to where the new central library would be. Now, of course with intensification that will happen in the downtown core in about 10-15 years once servicing issues are resolved there will be need for another library. Heck there's need for a library now for the area with the seniors and neighbourhood becoming younger again. So, what about the possibility of maintaining the library in a smaller capacity as a branch (most of the material I'm assuming will move to the new central library), and make it a community center - something for adolecents. In the mean time, work with St. Pauls to incorporate a branch library into their building so the town could partner with St. Paul's to provide a service and also as a result give an influx of funds to help with building maintenence and eventually move the library material there. The Bruce street location could then become fully an adolecent-focused facility. We've got a lot of young kids in town that will be growing into teenagers and we'll need more services for them.