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According to the results of the sixth Citizen Survey, 85 per cent of Oakville residents believe that Oakville is better than most areas in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) when it comes to overall livability. And when it comes to their public library service, they are particularly happy.

Residents were asked to rate 11 services provided by the town, one of which was library services, for which satisfaction exceeded 90 per cent! Library services were one of only three services to exceed the 90 per cent satisfaction level.

In accordance with the library’s business plan that cites delivering ‘exceptional customer experience’ as one of its key values with the over-arching vision of ‘Love the experience’, the survey results clearly show that we are committed to maintaining and developing customer service excellence in all areas.

These results are the continued efforts of all library staff and I am extremely proud and fortunate to work with an engaged and customer-orientated staff!

For more information regarding the 2013 Citizen Survey, please visit http://www.oakville.ca/townhall/citizen-surveys.html

From,

Charlotte Meissner, CEO, Oakville Public Library

Starting the week of April 22, 2013, Enviro-packs will be added to our Bookpack collections at all 6 Oakville Public Library branches. This is a joint venture with the Town of Oakville Environmental Policy Department and the library to provide kids with fun, easy to use activities and information on local wildlife, recycling, wise energy use and climate change. Much of the material contained in the colorful, whimsical back packs is produced by the Town of Oakville and the Region of Halton. These kits provide resources and activities for kids to learn about Oakville’s environment and share ideas about how to support the earth we live on. They are suitable for kids, families and educators.

To borrow one of these great learning kits, check one out at your local branch! Ask a staff member or check their availability by searching our catalogue for “Enviro-packs”.

And the staff-selected winner is:
“The more things that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.

Do you have a favorite poem, stanza, lyric or quote? Are there words that have positively impacted your life? We want to hear them! From April 15 – May 3, send us your favorite quotation. We’ll choose our favorite and have it printed on OPL merchandise – beautiful café style mugs! The staff-selected winner will receive a mug prize pack (in addition to their quote being printed). The top 5 runners up will also receive a mug.

Who can enter?
Any Oakville Public Library cardholder may enter! Only one entry per person will be accepted. Immediate family members of OPL staff, board members and volunteers are not eligible, as per the library’s Contest and Lotteries Policy.

How to enter:
1. Select a favorite quote, stanza, lyric or quote to submit (note that it will need to fit on a coffee mug – limit of 200 characters)
2. Fill out this ‘online ballot’ with your quote and contact information before 12:00pm on May 3, 2013.

How will we choose a winner?!
1. On Friday, May 3rd, International Press Freedom Day, we’ll select our top 6 favorite submissions – they’ll be announced on our website as well as our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
2. Our library staff will vote for their favorites and the quote with the highest number of votes will be announced as the winner on Wednesday, May 8!

Food for thought: “I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” - Emily Dickinson

Good luck!

The Oakville Public Library is pleased to announce the reappointment of Lisa Csele as the Chair of the Oakville Public Library Board for the 2013 year. Her re-election took place at the November 22, 2012 Board meeting and marks her second year in the position. This is an exciting time for Csele, who was also appointed to serve as mid-central Regional Councillor for the Ontario Library Board Association (OLBA) for a three year term starting on January 1, 2013.

Lisa played a key role in the strategic planning process for the library in 2012 that culminated in the release of Love the Experience: the strategic plan for 2012-2015. Along with community members, the library staff and Board, the Mayor and Town Councillors, the strategic plan ensures that the library was ready to meet the needs of the community now, and in the future.

“I am delighted to have been chosen to lead this wonderful group of Board members for a second term. It is my great pleasure to contribute to such a worthwhile community organization,” said Lisa Csele.

Some highlights from among the Board’s many accomplishments since its appointment in 2011 are:

· The approval of the 2012-2015 strategic plan

· Hiring a new Chief Executive Officer in 2012

· Endorsement of future directions highlighted in the Town of Oakville’s Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Master Plan

The Board looks forward to providing continued leadership for a number of strategic initiatives including:

· Providing more opportunities for dialogue with the community

· Launching a new Integrated Library System, to manage the borrowing of library materials

· Delivering compelling and relevant web, mobile and eContent services

· Providing access to even more local content through the library website

· Increasing programming for teens and adults

· Assisting residents in growing their digital and media literacy skills

Board meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month and are open to the public. Public delegations are welcome at meetings and agendas and minutes are available on the library website http://www.opl.on.ca/about/board-meetings several days prior to the meeting.

The complete list of Board members is available at http://www.opl.on.ca/about/board

Due to budget cuts, Library and Archives Canada has informed all public libraries that they will stop their Interlibrary Loan service effective December 11, 2012.

This means that Oakville Public Library will no longer be able to acquire any material on Interlibrary Loan from this institution. Library and Archives Canada is working to digitize its content so users can have access electronically. Oakville Public Library will do its best to locate material previously held at Library and Archives Canada from alternative sources. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

For more information please visit the Library and Archives Canada website.

Iroquois Ridge, Woodside, Glen Abbey and Central branches, in co-operation with Oakville Transit, are offering easy access to the PRESTO electronic fare system. The PRESTO system eliminates the need for coins, tickets and transfers.

PRESTO cards can now be purchased for $6 from a Circulation Desk at the Iroquois Ridge, Woodside, Glen Abbey or Central library branch. Library staff are able to pre-load and re-load fare dollars onto PRESTO cards at any time during library hours.

PRESTO makes it easier to pay your fare while traveling within and between transit systems by the simple tap of a card.

For more information on the PRESTO electronic fare system, please visit the Oakville Transit website.