Know Your Library The Scugog Memorial Public Library is a busy, vital part of the Scugog community. The present building (without addition) was officially opened in May 1982, by Mayor Jerry Taylor. Since that time the library has become an important information centre providing an abundance of services to the community. Just how busy has Scugog’s “little library” become since it opened 28 years ago? Well read on... During 2008 Scugog Library customers borrowed 167,595 items (including Pooks, movies, music and magazin: Residents of Seusog Township visited the library | 19,174 times. On some days, more than 700 people came through its doors! Library card holders number 15,394. That’s 68 per cent of the population of the Township of Scugog! There are few libraries in Ontario that reach this high per- centage of use. Almost 13,000 people used the public Internet work stations. 2,005 people used the library's wireless internet service to get their own laptops online. 1,664 adults and children at- tended 234 programs that appealed to all age ranges and all interests (from story times to photography classes). During the summer months, 169 children registered for the library's Summer Reading Club, read- Iie, a 2 oral of 2,020 books! og Memorial Public nee filled 817 Interlibrary loan requests and ensured that our customers read the books they wanted, even if we didn’t have them in our collection. Scugog Memorial Library needs community support The day ofa library being a facility for only books is long gone, but despite the move to computers, internet and technology, don’t think for a minute books are still not a big part of our local resource centre. Since 1982, when Scugog Memorial Public Library was moved from its familiar location on Queen St. to it's new home near the lakefront, the library has continued to provide more and varied services to the community. These services are now accessed at 68 percent of the total population (21,400) of Scugog Township. Now, almost 20 years after the 6,700 sq. ft. library was opened on Water St.,a new expansion is well underway to bring it into the twenty-first century. When the addition is completed, Scugog Library will have a total of 16,600 sq. feet of space, enough to meet the growth expectations for the community for years to come. Building libraries is expensive business and although much of the $5 million cost of expansion came from government grants, Scugog was required by government funders to raise $500,000 as the ‘community's share’. An additional $250,000 is required for fixtures, furnishing and equipment. The fundraising campaign has been underway for some time now, and two- thirds of the commitment has been raised, much coming from local businesses and organizations. The public part of the campaign has begun and this is where the community can come together and help. The library needs your help to ensure that it continues to be a vital resource for our community for many years to come! Despite a good start in rasing funds, the community share has not yet been reached. Money raised through this final effort will provide the necessary funds for furnishings and equipment. The Scugog Memorial Public Library is your library. When you invest in it, you invest in your community and its future. The generosity of Scugog Township resi- dents will ensure the Scugog Memorial Public Library and the community continue “Growing Together” today for a strong and vibrant tomorrow. Anyone who would like to make a pledge or donation — or if you require further information — please contact Amy Coughlin, CEO. You can contact Amy the following ways: Phone: 905-985-7686 extension 102