October 15 , 2007

 

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE AWARDS
Ontario Public Library Week Runs October 15-21, 2007

TORONTO — This year’s Ontario Public Library Week and Canadian Library Month theme is The world at your fingertips. Libraries are essential community hubs and - thanks to new technologies - now connect residents and communities to the global information network. This year’s theme acknowledges the crucial role libraries play in promoting literacy, learning and knowledge in a global community context. Nine library projects have been named as finalists for the 2007 Ontario Public Library Service Awards.

The Ontario government created the Public Library Service Awards in 1985 to identify, promote and celebrate public library service ideals.
There are two types of awards:

• The Minister’s Award for Innovation, which recognizes new ideas in public library service; and,
• The Angus Mowat Award of Excellence, which recognizes excellence in public library service.

The shortlist candidates for this year’s Minister’s Award for Innovation are:

• Brock Township Public Library Board − for the Equi-Pass Program which provides low-cost digital learning opportunities to enhance employment skills for rural residents, many of whom lack access to local learning centres and high-speed internet;
• Hastings Highlands Public Library − for a Mobile Library project which provides access to programs and services to rural residents who lack transportation and are not able to otherwise visit the library, including many pre-schoolers and seniors;
• Kanhiote Tyendinaga Territory Public Library − for Our Way Forward: Advocacy Toolkit, a training resource for First Nation public librarians to build awareness of their libraries among their chiefs and councils, potential funders and other stakeholders;
• London Public Library − for LOLLYPOP, a program to increase the literacy and leadership skills of youth through creative expression and community building; and,
• Sault Ste. Marie Public Library − for Community Corner Family Storytime which provides children and their families in low-income areas with barrier-free access to literacy programs in a supportive environment.

The shortlist candidates for this year’s Angus Mowat Award of Excellence are:

• Seguin Township Public Library Board − for its recent expansion project, increased collections, new computer and training area, and introduction of a ServiceOntario site;
• Pelham Public Library − for teen programs Fahrenheit 451: Freedom to Read and Harry Potter and the All-Nighter Party, which both promote reading and awareness of censorship through basic technology, including websites and blogs;
• Port Hope Public Library − for its Open a BOOK, Open a BUSINESS initiative to develop, expand and promote library resources to the local business and agricultural communities; and,
• St. Catharines Public Library Board − represents 12 Niagara region  library systems that partnered to create a Reading Series to promote local authors, libraries, and the related arts of reading, writing and thinking.

The winners of the 2007 Public Library Service Awards will be announced at the Ontario Library Association’s annual Super Conference in February 2008.

The Ontario government invests more than $28.4 million annually in Ontario’s public and First Nations libraries, to ensure that all Ontarians have access to library programs and services. The government invested an additional $15 million in 2005/06 and $5 million in 2006/07 to help libraries promote literacy, provide access to digital resources and improve services in northern and First Nations libraries.

Last year, over 66 million people visited Ontario’s public libraries, circulating more than 100 million items. More than 2.2 million Ontarians participated in library programs. Ontarians are encouraged to enjoy and celebrate the many events, programs and services at their local public libraries during Ontario Public Library Week and Canadian Library Month.

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Contact:
Guy Lepage, Ministry of Culture Communications Branch, (416) 314-3497