www.oakvillebeaver.com18 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 25, 2007

What’s exciting about theOakville Public Library is themany new and creative waysthat services are enhancedeach year - enhancementsmade possible by the tremen-dous support of communityand Council alike.

In 2006, we re-opened theGlen Abbey Branch which wasexpanded to address the grow-ing needs of Oakville. On its eagerly awaited openingday, over 1,000 residents filled the renovated branch tocelebrate the new Children’s Area and other improve-ments. Since then, Glen Abbey has continued to be oneof the busiest branches in the system; without a doubt itis a well-used and well-loved service.

Our Children’s Services continue to uphold their reputation for quality and excellence. We launched ourChildren’s Language Learning Centres in early 2006to meet the needs of our multilingual residents. We alsolaunched our ground-breaking Every Child Ready ToRead® early literacy program in September 2006, andalready it has reached thousands of Oakville childrenand their caregivers!

A true snapshot of community support, the renewal ofthe Library’s Strategic Plan was completed in Septemberof 2006, and the Parks, Recreation, Culture and LibraryMaster Plan was completed in June 2006. The enormousamount of valuable input we received from many ofyou will allow us to be proactive in meeting the needsof a changing Oakville while staying true to the principlesthat have made us the top citizen-rated municipalservice in town. Thank you to all who participated – yourideas will make the library and our community betterand stronger for everyone.

So many of you make the library a part of your lives,and we thank you for your continued support. When thecommunity appreciates their library, amazing things can happen.

Yours truly,

Chris FrenchBoard Chair 2006

2006 HIGHLIGHTS

Wireless Internet Access Available atAll Library BranchesIn 2006, all branches of the OakvillePublic Library became ‘hotspots’, offeringwireless Internet access for patrons whovisit the library with laptop computers.This service has given the public freeuse of the Internet and the various libraryservices with the added convenience ofbeing able to download informationdirectly to their own computers.

Children’s Language Learning CentresThe Children’s Language Centre is a one-stop area for people wanting to explorelearning opportunities in languagesother than English. The languages featuredare: Spanish, German, Italian, Polish,Portuguese, Chinese, Panjabi, Hindi,Urdu, Arabic and Korean. These LanguageCentres, located at the Iroquois Ridge,White Oaks and Glen Abbey branchesmeet specific needs of first generationimmigrant families with young children,students registered in international language classes in Oakville and childrenand parents wishing to develop secondlanguage skills. This service is madepossible, in part, from community sup-port from Shell Canada and theCommunity Foundation of Oakville.

Glen Abbey Branch Renovation,Expansion & ReopeningThe expansion added 3,500 sq. feet tothe Glen Abbey Branch. The new andimproved features include a bright newchildren's space, areas for quiet study, aspecial area for teens, and an expandedmagazine and reading lounge. Theredesigned entrance and new servicedesks welcome visitors to experience anexciting learning environment featuring

collections of print,multimedia and elec-tronic resources, plusa technology centrethat provides wirelessInternet access. Theproject was supportedby the Town ofOakville and theCanada OntarioInfrastructureProgram. We extendmany thanks to all ofour donors whohelped make this ren-ovation possible.

Every Child Ready to Read®Did you know that there are six skills achild needs to develop before age fiveto be able to read well? Those skills are:Print Motivation, Letter Knowledge,Phonological Awareness, NarrativeSkills, Print Awareness and Vocabulary.Ground breaking research has shownthat a preschooler’s earliest experienceswith books and reading are critical forfuture success. Public libraries acrossNorth America, including the OakvillePublic Library, responded to this needwith the Every Child Ready to Read®

program. The Oakville Public Libraryhas incorporated Every Child Ready toRead® criterion into all of its children’sservices, including Preschool Programming,a Parent Guide, the library’s web site,

and staff training. Already over 750children and over 450 parents andcaregivers have participated.

Public Event: Jay IngramJay Ingram, co-host of DiscoveryChannel’s Daily Planet, enthralled asold out audience at the Oakville Clubduring Public Library week to discuss hisbook, Theatre of the Mind: Raising theCurtain on Consciousness.

Visit from the Honourable James K.Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario & Teen Write2XpressWriting ContestThe second annual Write2Xpress TeenWriting Contest awards night took placein conjunction with a visit from theHonourable James K. Bartleman,Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, whovisited the Central Branch to announcethe Federation of Ontario PublicLibraries’ Telling Our Stories contest.The annual Write 2Xpress contest isopen to all local teens in grades 7 –12. Oakville teens were asked to sub-mit a 1,500-word story based on aphoto themed, “What if?”Congratulations to all winners!

Library Renews Its Strategic Plan to 2011As Oakville changes, so do we! Withsubstantial input from you, the public,our newest Strategic Plan was designedto make sure we're responding to thechanging needs of Oakville in creativeand innovative ways. No matter whereyou live or what your interests are, ourmission is to provide access to resources,foster the joy of reading, and provide awelcoming space for all to enjoy. To findout more about how we plan to serveyou better, read the Oakville Public LibraryStrategic Plan 2007-2011 on theLibrary's website at http://www.opl.on.ca/About.php. Copies are also available ateach branch.

Message from the Chair of the Library Board

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

Where people and ideas meet.

Our 2006 Board Members

Councillor Tom AdamsHarry BlairMelodie Campbell,Vice-Chair

Roland ChalupkaChris French, ChairElaine FungCouncillor Jeff KnollRebecca HartlenMaria RobinsonLara SamulenokLinda Vandusen

www.opl.on.ca

It All Adds Up...

OakvilleLoves ItsLibrary!

The library performedover 12.8 millionservice transactionsin 2006 - almost 80transactions perOakville resident!

Each year, over58,000 new books,magazines, DVDsand CDs refresh thelibrary’s collection.

We have over 416,000items available toborrow, with manymore available online.

On average, everyperson living inOakville checkssomething out of thelibrary over 13 timesa year.

Over 75% of resi-dents have a librarycard (one of thehighest percentagesof any library inCanada)!

Every Child Ready to Read® launch at Hopedale Mall. TV personality & author Jay Ingram autographs his book at the Oakville Club.

Write2Xpress contest winners and Teen Advisory Group members at the contest awards night.

Learning how to build a canoe at the Craft & Hobby Expo at Town Hall.

Avid donor and volunteer, Elsie Kossatz pictured with her stained-glass window at the Woodside Branch.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the reopening of the Glen Abbey Branch.

Endowment FundTom and Janet AltonJune and Alex AtkinsNicholas AveryThe Richard & Barbara Birkett

Family FundHarry and Joanna BlairMelodie CampbellRobert and Patricia DeckerRosemary FergusonDr. and Mrs. M. L. HairRebecca Hartlen and

Steven WoodEleanor JamesJanice KullasMaria MoellerDave and Anne MurdochJean MurrayGordon and Lyn O'ReillyMargaret PerschyDanny and Margaret PonnLinda VandusenGordon Wittman

Donors Ace Plus AutomotiveAltruists of OakvilleMarilyn AdamsTom AdamsTrish AitchisonMargaret AndersonDiane ArnellWilliam and Marjorie ArnoldAnne and George BagosyFrances BallantyneSusan BrownRoss and Lynda BryantRobert BrooksKaren ByrnesMelissa CameronRobert CartottoNancy and Clive CoombsBrenda CotterillShelley CornackGlenn Marnie and

Graeme CourtneyIrma CryslerJoan D'ArcyMarie DeakosJudy DeMoneMichael and

Midge Des RochesRobert FarquharsonJohn FaskenAnne FellFriends of the Oakville

Public LibraryMargaret GlennNesta GordonNorman and Joan GrahamDan Gregory S.C. HalwaCharles HarrisSharon Hawley Kenneth and Mary HesterAnne HetheringtonRosemary Hillier John and Doreen HobbsJean and Eric HolockGet it WriteIan Martin LimitedFrank InvidiataLea KoivElsie KossatzLauraine LauberRichard LeeL.M. & Sons Janitorial Ltd.Frank and Azniv Lochan

Blair and Libby MacAulaySteven and Frances MantleDavid McNuttRobert MellishVictor MilliganMoen Inc. Heather MorrisonNetwork Cabling Service Ltd.Norwest Electric Ltd.Frances Ann OakleyBrian O'HalloranOmron Dualtec-Auto

Electronics Inc.Ontario Auto SalvagePeel District School BoardPeter and Joyanne PellierSheila and Bill PolleyGary and Lee PrestonPeter ProviasGail RichardsonDale and Betty RichmondMargaret RipleyRobert Hyde, Maria Robinson

and FamilySarah and Mark RochonDr. Maureen RudzikSandra RumfeldtCamelia Hanna and

Soliman RizkJerry and Anna SapaShelley SaundersDiane SepaShell Canada LimitedLori SimsRick and Pat SnellingBarbara SpearsSprott FoundationSwansea Computer

Specialists Ltd.Doug and Marva TaylorCynthia and Fred ThorpeTodd's Your Answer Ltd.Trafalgar BreweryStanley and Mary WhiteleyNancy WilliamsWilson FoundationDorothy WordenBarry and Angela Wylie

Gifts In KindBookers BookstoreChudleigh’s FarmsDairy Queen/BrazierHarper Collins Canada Ltd.Hopedale Mall il fornello Joseph's Estate Wines Inc.Lavender FloristLick's RestaurantMexicali Rosa'sOakville PlaceOakville Price Chopper Ontario Genealogical Society

-Halton-Peel BranchPanago PizzaParadisoPats Complete Party RentalsPraxair Canada Inc.Rogers VideoSigns Alive! SobeysStarbucks Coffee CanadaTim Horton’sThe Oakville Centre for the

Performing ArtsThe Shopping NewsWhitecap

In MemoriumLouise CartottoPeter CotterillJohn DawsonKenneth FellR.L. FergusonLilian FlynnRae FonsecaPatrick HannPaul HeronNorman JamesIsla LeeMargaret MooreJohn MurrayTerry PittsPamela PurvisGerald SaundersMaryon SaundersElaine WhitbreadMargaret Wood

92%

5%3%

Statement of Financial Activities Year Ended December 31, 2006

REVENUETown Grants $7,038,712

Provincial Grants $184,793

Federal Grants $20,997

Library Generated Revenue $490,178

Total Revenues $7,734,680

EXPENDITURESHuman Resources $5,704,018

Collections $772,803

Operating Supplies $237,586

Purchased Services & Util. $921,364

Interest on Long-term Debt $920

Transfers to Town of Oakville $20,500

Transfer to Endowment Fund $12,770

Total Expenditures $7,669,961

NET REVENUE $64,719

New Debt Issurance $0

Long-term Debt Principal Repayments ($40,794)

Decrease in Non-financial Assets ($6,806)

Increase in Fund Balance $17,119

Fund Balance, beginning of year $0

Fund Balance, end of year $17,119

The Oakville Public Library Endowment Fund at December 31st, 2006 is $178,758. The fund is managed by the Community Foundation of Oakville.

Our 2006 Donors

Every effort has been made to provide an accurate listing of our donors. We apologize for any errors or omissions thatmay have occurred

THE OAKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY WISHES TO THANK ITS VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR VALUABLE TIME AND SERVICES.

Children s Language Learning Centres launchChildren’s Language Learning Centres launchat the Iroquois Ridge Branch.

“My children make choices in thelibrary. It’s nice to watch them confidently move from one learningvehicle to another. They hunt on thecomputer for book titles [and do]internet searches for projects andinformation. Or, they simply select,sit down and read a book. Our weeklyvisits to the library have increased our children’s ability to learn independ-ently and their knowledge.”Mary C. Moore

The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 25, 2007 - 23www.oakvillebeaver.com