Programs and Services

Programs and Services Offered

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Cavendish Youth Group

Computer Classes and Training

Internet Access

Knit and Lit

Ontario Parks Day-Use Permit Lending

Photocopies and Fax

Story Time

Have an idea for a program that would benefit the community? Let us know!

Library Programming Plan 2023

Children’s Programming

The recent pandemic has permanently changed the way the library approaches programming at the library. Due to the popularity of the take-home crafts, we now offer free craft kits available to families on a permanent basis. All children programs are fully restored to pre-pandemic schedules.  The family-friendly event is held at the Buckhorn Branch at 11 am on Wednesdays. It includes a seated story time followed by a variety of theme related crafts, songs, and other fun activities. 

We encourage families to socialize after the program so the children can engage with the toys, books, puppets, and puzzles provided in the children’s area of the library. This interactive time is important to help children develop motor, cognitive and social skills. At Trent Lakes Public Library, we want to help bring families together and create an atmosphere of community and discovery.

It is also a priority for the library to purchase more cognitive and sensory toys for the children to enjoy. If budget permits a children’s computer station with a tablet that meets accessibility and safety criteria would be beneficial for learning.

The Library will continue to provide extended children’s programming for other community organizations in the area. New ideas being considered for 2023 are a “The Library Comes to You” program, as well as looking into funding to bring in guest authors and illustrators.

The Cavendish library will hold Story Time in the summer months on Tuesday morning. If there is interest in continuing the program further, the library will examine other options in the autumn.

Youth Programming 

Youth Group runs every Tuesday night from 6 to 7:30pm during the school year. The Trent Lakes Library and the Cavendish Community Centre collaborate to provide this program. It is open to all youth in the Municipality of Trent Lakes. Once in high school, local youth can acquire community service hours by assisting with the program. Attendance is between 7 and 20 children each week. An important aspect of the Cavendish Youth Group is that it is free of charge.

Each week those who attend the program have free access to the playground, skating rink, baseball diamond and upper level of the Community Centre. Craft time is run for those who wish to participate.  The library is also available for use during this time, as well as the computers and internet access for schoolwork.

Hopefully with fewer covid restrictions, the Youth Group will be able to resume possible excursions to the Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium, or Famous People Theatre, as well as smaller trips closer to the Community Centre. The YG would also like to be able to resume Sleepovers at the Community Centre which are well attended.  Occasionally, special dinners are arranged especially for Halloween and Christmas potluck. The YG also enjoys ordering local meals for all that wish to participate.

The older children interact with the younger ones both during active play and during craft time, assisting younger children with the more challenging activities. Parents have the option to either stay at the Community Centre or leave. Because we are a remote community, this provides parents with an excellent opportunity to interact with their neighbours.

There will also be youth programming in the summer months. It will be a drop-in program every Saturday. There is also a plan to have separate activities available throughout the week on a drop-in basis.

Adult Programming

The library will resume its Knit and Lit program in 2023. This program will be held on Tuesdays and is an informal forum of knitting, crocheting and fibre arts. Patrons can bring their current craft projects or else we supply the pattern and yarn so they can create items for donation to local shelters. Library staff also help teach the patrons the basics of knitting and crocheting. 

To enhance this program in the future, we hope to bring in special guests with skills in the textile and fabric arts to help inspire the group. 

We also offer one-on-one computer help. Patrons receive individualized assistance with everything from Microsoft Word, Facebook, Google Maps, emailing and spotting internet scams or harmful websites.

Patrons can receive guidance from staff on how to use their e-readers and information about downloading books from the library. Assistance with mobile phone applications such as how to text, creating or editing a contact list and how to change the settings is also provided.

If the demand increases, we will offer a specialized, one-hour computer class for seniors on a specified date and time.

Trent Lakes Public Library Technology Plan

2023-2026

Trent Lakes Public Library is committed to providing consistent, updated technology services that respond to the needs of the community. This 2023-2026 Technology Plan, based on public and staff input, research and analysis, will guide priority activities toward achieving that goal in the context of the Library’s goal to connect the community to opportunities for growth, inspiration and discovery.

The overall objectives of the 2023-2026 Technology Plan are to:

• Update existing technology to industry standards and recommendations
• Standardize and expand services at both Library locations
• Increase and diversify training opportunities for the public and staff

Background

Despite general improvements to access to technology in Trent Lakes and Peterborough County, significant disparities remain in access to and knowledge of technology, including basic internet access and computer knowledge. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when schools and jobs moved online, this digital divide became increasingly evident in both the provincial and national discourse. For decades, public libraries have worked to counteract the impact of the digital divide by providing digital media equipment, software and workforce-focused training programs.

Over the past three years, Trent Lakes Public Library has made great strides to improve access to online databases that were previously funded by the Provincial Government. In 2021 the library increased the number of research and school focused databases to help with the increased in demand from online and home schooling due to the pandemic. These tools have been used by the community and the Buckhorn school. The Library will continue to monitor the usage statistics to ensure that the databases are useful or to see if other tools should be explored to best serve the community.

Purpose

This plan will guide and focus the Library’s technology-related work over the next three years. It is based on extensive research, analysis and input by the public and staff that have helped to understand the current state of the community’s needs and desires; how the Library is meeting those needs; and how the technology offerings at Trent Lakes Public Library compare with other libraries and trends in the field. As staff work to implement the objectives identified in this plan, they will continue to open conversations with Library users and the larger community to ensure that the Library is fulfilling its commitments to providing the best possible service to the patrons.

Objectives

• Update existing technology to industry standards and recommendations. While the Library has some cutting-edge technology, it is not true or uniform for everything. While this work is never complete, fulfilling this objective will create a baseline standard that allows for more services in the future.
• Standardize and expand services at both Library locations. As part of a commitment to providing a comparable and consistent user experience at both library branches, the Library will identify deficiencies and make improvements to basic technology available throughout the system.
• Increase and diversify training opportunities for public as well as staff. Technology training at Trent Lakes Public Library is inconsistent as other community services will offer some programs as well. Under this plan, staff will develop annual training programs to deliver both to the public and to staff who support the public needs for technology assistance.

The Plan

Update existing technology to industry standards and recommendations

• Keep all key software, including the online public catalogue and circulation machines, updated with the latest versions of software
• Complete research and planning for a full review of the integrated library system in 2025-2026

Standardize and expand services at both Library locations

• Expand public document scanning and printing opportunities
• Offer printing services for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets
• Expand the circulating technology collection to include LaunchPads and/or tablets
• Add accessible computer workstations and expand accessible features on public computers
• Add more public device charging stations

Increase and diversify training opportunities

• Increase the number of digital literacy classes offered annually and promote current services
• Identify technology-related areas of training staff need to provide consistent service to community members and create a staff training program to respond to this need
• Develop public facing technology programs and services that respond to the changing needs and desires of the community

Community Input

This plan was developed with input from community members, staff and other stakeholders. During the survey for the new Strategic Plan, the public was asked what programs would be of interest, what technology is used in the library and other ideas for improvements. Along with public input, Library staff contributed ideas and researched trends in the library field. Different ideas were noted from the Ontario Library Association Conference in 2023 as well as from meetings hosted by the Ontario Library Service.

Key Results

• Library users continue to utilize public PC access, public Wi-Fi access, printing, photocopying and scanning services, but they are no longer satisfied with the basic, inconsistent or limited access to these services.
• Staff are committed to the community and feel they could do their jobs better and with less confusion with additional training and equipment and a consistent technology-related user experience at both locations.
• Frontline staff have unique insight into the devices and services that community members request, such as a need for document scanners, and the ability to print from smartphones and tablets.
• The Digital Divide remains a significant issue in Trent Lakes and Peterborough County, particularly affecting individuals and families in certain socioeconomic classes and age groups. There is also an unique issue with the geography in Trent Lakes which makes internet access difficult in many locations. The Library can help narrow this divide by providing access to technology, modern services, training spaces, and circulating technology. There is a need for a wide variety of technology-related Library programs – which are free and easily accessible.
• Trends in libraries suggest an expansion of self-serve options and more online information and presence. Some examples of self-serve options available at libraries include: updated self-service checkout kiosks that allow library card and program registration; 24/7 wifi and printing options; library materials vending machines at offsite locations; 24/7 access to lockers for items that are on hold; and mobile library apps.
• The Library is trying to secure funding for circulating tablets for all age demographics. There is research that supports the benefits of different games on cognitive retention and development.