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Media Room

Media Room

If you are a member of the media looking for a story idea, library image, or more information on a news release, give us a call.

For interview requests and media inquiries, please contact:

Nicole Paterson
Marketing Communications Manager
905.639.3611 ext 1120
patersonn@bpl.on.ca

image of woman with booksIn 2011:

  • We welcomed 928,248 visitors into the library.
  • Library customers borrowed over 1.96 million items—more items than ever before.
  • Over 44,000 people came to library programs.
  • Library staff responded to 100,976 information requests.
  • Visits to the library website reached an all-time high of over 1.65 million visits.
  • The new Aldershot Branch Library opened, the newest location under construction in northeast Burlington officially broke ground, and Tansley Wood Branch celebrated 15 years of service.
  • BPL won the 2011 Angus Mowat Award of Excellence for large public libraries for our popular I'll Show You How programs.

Burlington Public Library celebrates 140 years of library service in in our community in 2012.

What's trending at BPL

In 2011:

  • We introduced Freegal (free & legal) music downloads, eReaders to borrow, and EXPRESS loans for bestsellers and popular movies so you don’t have long to wait for the latest and greatest.

  • WiFi use doubled, so we increased the library's capacity to handle the demand.
  • Nearly 3,500 people used the new BPLMobile app and 8% of online visits to the library were made from mobile devices like phones and tablets. 
  • DVDs remained a popular choice for library users, with a 10% increase over 2010.
  • eBook loans continued to climb: loans were 62% up. eBooks represent 3% of everything borrowed in 2011.
  • Lots of gamers liked when the popular Nintendo DS and 3DS games joined our collection: 26% more video games were borrowed.

image of man reading paperLocal media keep our community informed on library-related issues and help us share our good news.
 

Stories published about Burlington Public Library this year:

Culture Days coming next weekend, Burlington Post, 18 Sep 2012

140 years of library service to be feted, Burlington Post, 14 Sep 2012

Human Library coming Sept. 29, Burlington Post. 12 Sep 2012

Paws 4 Stories program enhances kids' reading skills and enjoyment, Burlington Post, 19 July 2012

Library reveals its One Book series title selection, Burlington Post, 21 June 2012

One Book One Burlington selection to be released June 20, Burlington Post, 15 June 2012

Library wins excellence award, Burlington Post, 08 Feb 2012

A new chapter in Aldershot, Burlington Post, 20 Jan 2012

Library opening, Burlington Post, 11 Jan 2012

Members of the media may use the following images to accompany stories about the Library.

These images remain the property of Burlington Public Library and may not be digitally altered.

  • Photo credit: Ron Kuzyk, RK Photography, unless otherwise noted.
  • Image resolution is 150 dpi; high resolution images are available on request.

Don't see what you need?

Please contact Nicole Paterson, Manager, Marketing Communications. We have an extensive collection high quality, high resolution images and can send you photos to meet your specific needs and specifications.

We welcome photographers onsite, but ask that you arrange your visit in advance through the Marketing Communications office.

Click on thumbnail image for full size photo.

image of boys sharing library book
Boys sharing a library book in the Children's Area at Tansley Woods Branch Library. Size: 6.64" x 10"
image of mom and son reading
Mom and son sharing a book in the Children's Discovery Centre at Central Library. Size: 10" x 6.64"
image of teen at listening station
Teens at a listening station in the Teen Area at Central Library. Size: 5.94" x 10"
image of student using self checkout
Student borrowing items using self checkout at Brant Hills Branch. Size: 6.64" x 10"
image of senior woman in large print area
Senior woman browsing books in the Large Print Area at Central Library Size: 6.64" x 10"
image of family joining the library
Young family joining the library. Size: 6.64" x 10"
image of man using library computer
Man using a public access computer at Central Library. Size: 6.64" x 10"

image of board chairNancy Douglas
Chair, Library Board

Chair Nancy Douglas joined the library board in 2008 and served as vice-chair in 2010 through 2012.

Ms. Douglas has over 25 years of marketing and business development experience in Canada and the United States, including having held executive positions at Home Depot and I.C.I.

She is the founder of the Halton Hypnosis Centre and NeuroStrategies, both based in Burlington, as well as a speaker and workshop leader.

Ms. Douglas holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Certificate in Non-Profit Governance from McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business. She is a member of both the ICF (International Coach Federation) and Toastmasters International.

A Burlington resident for over 12 years, Nancy is a great champion of life-long learning and literacy development. She is Vice-President of Public Relations for Burlington Skyway Toastmasters and a volunteer with The Literacy Council of Burlington.
 

 

image of ceoMaureen Barry
Chief Exective Officer

Maureen Barry started her career at BPL as the deputy head of the Children’s department in 1984. She has since held various senior level positions including Children’s department head, manager of Branches, Adult Services department head, and most recently director, Service Delivery. She was selected to lead the library as Chief Executive Officer in April 2009.

Prior to coming to Burlington, Ms Barry was the children’s librarian at Collingwood Public Library and a librarian with Atmospheric Environment Service in Downsview, Ontario.

She holds an MLS from the University of Western Ontario, an Honours BA (French and German) from the University of Toronto, and a certificate in Non-Profit Governance from McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business.

Maureen is passionate about the library profession and her home community of Burlington. She is a tireless volunteer serving on committees for the Ontario Library Association and Canadian Library Association, a past secretary-treasurer for the Toronto-Hamilton Chapter of the Canadian Association of Public Libraries, and a former member of the Sheridan College Library Techniques Program Advisory Committee. Locally, she is the chair of the Volunteer Resource Committee for Habitat for Humanity Halton. Maureen was honoured to receive the Committee Volunteer of the Year award in 2006.

Burlington Public Library Board

The Library Board establishes policies that govern the operations of the library, develops, authorizes, and monitors the library's strategic plan and is responsible for the library's financial stability.