Top BPL Stories - 2008 Archive

November 12, 2008

Congratulations, Take Flight & Write participants

Burlington Public Library is very pleased to announce the winners of the 8th annual Take Flight & Write teen writing contest, and congratulates everyone who submitted their creative work for judging this year.

“This year participants submitted 130 short stories and poems,” said Christine Dalgetty, Teen Services Librarian. "Needless to say, the judges had a tough challenge on their hands."

All participants have the opportunity to read from their work at a coffeehouse celebration on November 13, 7-9pm. Last year participants read from their work before an audience of their families, friends and fellow writers.

The coffeehouse is a free public event and everyone is welcome to come and listen to the readings.

Take Flight & Write Teen Writing Contest is open to all young adults in grades 7-12 living in or attending school in Burlington. Aspiring writers submit up to two short stories and three poems for judging, with the winners receiving cash prizes. Winners are chosen in three categories: Grades 7 & 8, 9 & 10, and 11& 12. 

November 4, 2008

City Librarian Wendy Schick announces retirement

On October 16, 2008, City Librarian Wendy Schick announced that, after 40 years of service to Burlington Public Library, she will retire effective April 2, 2009.  The Burlington Public Library Board accepted the City Librarian’s retirement in a closed session at their meeting October 16, 2008.

Wendy commented, “It has been a great privilege and an exciting adventure to have worked for the Burlington Public Library for 40 years in many capacities and with Library Board and staff members along with City of Burlington mayors, councillors and City staff.”

The City Librarian will continue to lead the Library until April 2009 as the transition and recruitment process unfolds.  The Burlington Public Library Board has contracted the firm Promeus to assist with the recruitment process to fill the position.

Wendy Schick began her career at Burlington Public Library July 9, 1968 in a part-time capacity as a Cataloguer in the Technical Services Department.  In 1972 Wendy was promoted to Head of Technical Services and was responsible for implementing systems that gave better control, were more responsive and efficient.  Wendy filled the role of Deputy Chief Librarian from 1979 before being appointed Chief Librarian in June 1985.  The City Librarian is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Library system in the city of Burlington, comprised of 6 locations with 235 employees and over 40 volunteers.

Board Chair, Terry Tick noted, “Burlington Public Library has benefited from Wendy’s tremendous dedication to the library and the important role it plays in the community.  I know everyone will share in celebrating her career and contribution and wish her well in her retirement.”

October 16 , 2008

Burlington Public Library hosts seminars for Small Business Month

Take a look at the seminars offered through Burlington Public Library in recognition of Small Business Month in Ontario. Whether you are budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, there is a session for you. All sessions are FREE. The only investment you need to make is your time!

Did you know? We have business resources available on-site at Central Library or online right here >>

October 8 , 2008

Settlement worker starts at the library

Burlington Public Library is pleased to announce a new service now available at Central Library, presented in partnership with Halton Multicultural Council (funded by the Government of Canada through Citizenship and Immigration Canada). This is a FREE service.

Settlement Workers assist people who are new to Canada. They aid people through the immigration process and help them to integrate and live independently in the community.

Settlement workers can help in many ways:

Government document application, such as a Social Insurance Number, Canadian passport, Ontario Health Card, Ontario Driver’s License, Permanent Residence Card;

Employment and job search;

Information and referral to different services;

Document translation and interpretation for day-to-day needs;

Short-term counselling to support the transition to Canadian life;

Help with school enrollment, budgeting, finding affordable housing, and much more.

September 12, 2008

Betty Blogger online summer school graduates 37 students

On Thursday, September 4, twenty-five students and family members enjoyed a night of good food, good cheer, and Wii during their Betty Blogger Graduation Party. Eighteen students received their graduation certificates, and three lucky graduates were awarded final prizes: an MP3 player, a digital camera, and a Sony Digital Reader.

Betty Blogger—A Recipe for Web 2.0 was the first online course offered by BPL. Ninety-five students registered for this course and thirty-seven students completed the program. Congratulations!

The Betty Blogger summer school was designed for social networking ‘absolute beginners.’ During the eight-week course participants completed a simple and practical task each week that explained a different Web 2.0 technology. The goal of this program was to build a greater understanding of social networking technology, what it can be used for, and how it can be used. The course fee was $5/person.

Aldershot Branch

905 333 9995

10am-9pm

Brant Hills Branch

905 335 2209

9am-9pm

New Appleby Branch

905 639 6373

10am-6pm

Tansley Woods

905 336 5583

9am-9pm

August 13, 2008

Local youth learn from award-winning authors at Burlington Book Camp, Aug 11-15

Thirty-one 10 to 12 year old campers are at Burlington Central Library this week for the 2nd annual Burlington Public Library Book Camp.

Throughout the week, campers will be engaged in writing activities and seminars lead by some of the best Canadian writers, illustrators and performers. Location: Centennial Hall, 1st floor, Central. More on what this camp is all about >>

July 30, 2008

Take Flight & Write teen writing contest deadline extended

There’s still time to enter! Burlington Public Library’s 2008 Take Flight & Write Teen Writing Contest deadline has been extended to 5pm on Saturday, August 9.

“This is our eighth year and we’ve seen this contest really ‘take flight’,” says Christine Dalgetty, Teen Librarian.

Last year Take Flight & Write received 106 entries from 84 Burlington students. Burlington Public Library is hoping to build on this interest and receive even more entries this summer.

“There is a lot of creative talent in Burlington and we’d like the teens in our community to see this contest as their forum to express that creativity,” Dalgetty says.

Take Flight & Write Teen Writing Contest is open to all young adults in grades 7-12 living in or attending school in Burlington. Participants may submit up to two short stories and three poems for judging; winners receive cash prizes. Winners will be chosen in three categories: Grades 7&8, 9&10, and 11&12, and will receive their prizes and read from their work at a special writer’s coffeehouse this fall.
 
“Each year we are amazed by the calibre of writing we see and the kids’ enthusiasm for the contest,” says Dalgetty. “It’s a chance for them to show off their creativity and possibly win a cash prize.”

All participants have the opportunity to read from their work at a coffeehouse celebration in November. Last year over 40 participants read from their work in front of an audience of their families, friends and fellow writers.

“The coffeehouse is all about celebrating the creativity of these young writers who participate in this contest. It takes a lot of courage to submit your work to another writer for judging, and to read your work in front of your peers,” says Dalgetty.

The Take Flight & Write Official Entry Form is available to download or may be picked up at any Burlington Public Library location.

July 29, 2008

Game on @ Burlington Public Library

By Christine Dalgetty, M.I.S.T.
Youth Services Librarian,

Got Game? Wii do! Burlington Public Library is offering Wii gaming sessions at all library locations over the summer and so far 130 youth have participated city-wide.

“We are very excited about these programs,” says Christine Dalgetty, Teen Librarian. “We launched the Wii during March Break where we had 108 kids over four days. So we knew that it was something we had created a demand for.”

Libraries across North America have embraced gaming as a way to engage their teen patrons by providing programming that supports literacy, team building and intermixing media content for learning. Gaming requires traditional text literacy in order to succeed and kids can have fun participating in a social activity at the same time.

“Change is the name of the game in public libraries where it is necessary to keep pace with technology and societal trends to be relevant to our community and our customers,” says Maureen Barry, Director of Service Delivery. “Gaming is a new way of learning and public libraries are always ready to embrace new and innovative ways for people to learn and to have fun. Children, teens and seniors are lining up at libraries across North America to be part of gaming programs.”

Most of the popular games have no speech or tutorials—all communication from the interface to dialogue with game-in characters is delivered to the player as printed on-screen text, a few lines at a time. Reading skills are very important when playing video games as players must interpret the on-screen instructions and dialogue. So while gaming, kids are nurturing their literacy skills and engaged with text in a completely new and exciting way!

Everyone plays games in some way, be it a card game with friends or solitaire, games on our cell phone, cross word puzzles or Sudoku, board games, team sports – we all play; it is universal. Videogames are simply another avenue of play, and video gaming has been steadily growing in popularity for about three decades. It is the medium of choice for the millennial generation. For teens and tweens, gaming meets a number of developmental assets™ as identified by the Search Institute that are “essential to raising successful young people.”

According to a recent study conducted by Syracuse University at least 7 out of 10 public libraries support gaming (out of 400 libraries surveyed). Gaming is happening in libraries across North America and is quickly becoming a very popular programming vehicle for teens, a group that can be difficult to reach through traditionally library programming.

June 30, 2008

Burlington Public Library debuts new logo

On Monday morning, local residents will get their first glimpse of Burlington Public Library’s brand new logo as they drive by Central Library on New Street.

The introduction of this new logo is part of an overall branding initiative recently undertaken by the Library. One important aspect of this initiative was to develop a consistent visual identity across the library system.

“With the opening of two eye-catching new library buildings in 2005, we started to talk about revitalizing our logo,” says Wendy Schick, City Librarian, “We needed a strong symbol that would unify our look and also reflect the community’s perception of the library and how we see ourselves.”