With these difficult and trying economic times, it is certainly understandable that people are anxious. That said, it is precisely during downturns in our economy when strong public libraries are needed the most. It is the public library that people go to when they can no longer afford to subscribe to their favourite magazines or newspapers, or to their Internet service. It is from the public library that people borrow rather than buy the latest bestseller, music CD or DVD. It is the public library that parents bring their children for free literacy-building programs. And it is the public library that people use to do a job search when they find themselves out of work or underemployed. Past downturns in the economy have proven that public libraries are used very heavily and we certainly expect this to be true for the Halton Hills Public Library. In fact, well before this current economic crisis, our usage has grown dramatically. Since 2001, circulation is up 50%, reference service is up 46%, children’s program attendance is up 86% and in-house Internet usage is up 50%. Like any business, we do have ebbs and flows in our activity. However, come any time between 10:00 a.m.-12 noon and 4:00-6:00 p.m., and you will see that we are well occupied serving children and young adults, and in the process, building literacy skills that will help them succeed in an increasingly competitive information age. We also know that with a new Georgetown Branch Library, with more reading, study and Internet station space, that people will be more inclined to stay and enjoy this space.

The request for a new Georgetown Branch Library has been a long standing one. It first appeared in the Town’s capital forecast in the early1990’s, and after a number of in-depth studies and reports, was approved in principle by Town Council in the fall of 2007. The Facility/Site Study done in 2005 recommended 33,000 ft2 of library space in Georgetown based on a projected Georgetown service area population of 46,325 by 2021. This study also pointed to the well documented deficiencies of the current Georgetown Branch Library, including very limited space for collection growth, inadequate space for users who wish to research or read in the library, lack of sufficient sound-proof space for children’s programming, extreme restrictions on storage and office space for staff, and dated, unappealing aesthetics. These deficiencies will be corrected in the renovated/expanded Georgetown Branch.

Although we recognize that these economic times are challenging, we do think that a well-stocked and appropriately sized public library will in fact be a tremendous asset to people who otherwise may not be able to afford many of the amenities that they have enjoyed in the past.