Celebrate Vaughan 2016 | Page 65

something for everyone at Vaughan Public Libraries! Throughout the year there are programs available for every age group to enjoy. Preschoolers, children, teens, and adults are able to join a variety of programs and book clubs at any time of the year. There’s a number of ways for newcomers to integrate into the Vaughan community, and all they have to do is get a free membership. There are multilingual collections at every single branch, including languages such as Spanish, Hindi, Korean, Tamil, Hebrew, Italian and so many more. There are also ESL collections and ESL programs at several locations, so anyone who is looking to improve their English can utilize the free help. There are several cultural programs offered as well, such as Chinese book clubs. New Civic Centre Library Up until early 2016, there were eight library branches in the city. On May 14, the new Civic Centre Resource Library opened right next door to Vaughan City Hall. This important project was planned to ensure Vaughan would not only have a new breathtakingly stunning building, but also a place that people could feel at home. The distinctive architectural design has an abundance of large windows allowing natural light to flood in and create a warm atmosphere. The features at this library are spectacular! Outdoors, you will find a beautiful reading garden and patio. Indoors, there is lots of space including meeting rooms, a marketplace, a family space with heated floors, a multi-purpose area for technology needs, a Teen Zone, a reading lounge, a study hall and so much more. Free Wi-Fi and the latest technology including iPads and notebooks are just the icing on the cake. Their collection of books and media began at approximately 70,000 items, and it is still growing! "THE ONLY THING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO KNOW, IS THE LOCATION OF THE LIBRARY." - Albert Einstein THE ULTIMATE READING ZONE This new location also introduces what is known as the Create It Space. Exclusive to the Civic Centre Resource Library, this digital media lab offers a creative space for everyone in Vaughan to use. There are three specific features to this area including a design space offering 3D printers and creative software, a green room for photography and videography equipment, and a music/control room comprising of production equipment, software and musical instruments. Just like every other location, Vaughan Public Libraries wanted to ensure that the new Civic Centre location was a welcoming place for everyone. In a community where there is so much cultural variety, it is important to have a place where everyone can come together. That’s why the Civic Centre Resource Library also carries the multilingual collections that are available at the other branches as well as offering a growing ESL collection. Newcomers find value through the story time programs for children, computer tutors, Summer Reading Clubs and book club programs for all age groups! The librarians have been doing a fantastic job with assisting the many newcomers to Vaughan who visit this location through helpful referrals, information searches, and using technology to help complete government forms, applications and more. A library isn’t just four walls and a lot of books. There’s so much more to it than that. The ability to bring together a community and help them feel connected can go a long way. If you inspire a city, you can make a real difference and that’s what happens every time someone steps into a Vaughan Public Library. Just as Albert Einstein once said, “the only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” He couldn’t have been more right. 2016 \ Celebrate Vaughan 65