6 Interesting Facts About Greater Sudbury Public Library
If you are a bookworm and love reading books in libraries, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, has a public library system called the Greater Sudbury Public Library. The district of Greater Sudbury’s residents can get information and services from GSPL. They can learn about new ideas, literacy, history, etc.
About Greater Sudbury
Greater Sudbury is a Canadian city in Ontario. You can explore places like Science North, which is a planetarium, and IMAX theater museum near the Ramsey Lake waterfront. A gigantic replica of a Canadian nickel from 1951 can be found in the Dynamic Earth Science Center, which is part of the museum. The Sudbury Art Gallery exhibits contemporary art in a mansion. The Northern Ontario Railway Museum displays vintage mining tools and railroad equipment.
At the time of the 2021 Canadian Census, there were 166,004 people living there, making it the largest city by population in Northern Ontario. In terms of land area, it is the biggest in Ontario and the fifth biggest in Canada.
1. The Greater Sudbury Public Library Board
The Greater Sudbury Library, a network of 13 library branches serving Sudbury, is governed by the Greater Sudbury Public Library Board. The Public Libraries Act (R.S.O. 1900, c. P44) governs the board, which was established as a corporation. An operating agreement is already in place, and it is being renegotiated to make the roles and responsibilities clearer or more specific.
The Board’s mission is to provide public library services to residents according to the Public Libraries Act and as further defined by the Public Library of Greater Sudbury (GSPL) Strategic Plan, Board policies, City of Greater Sudbury Council By-laws and regulations, and any other applicable legislation.
In accordance with its mission and vision, the Board aims to provide a public library service that is comprehensive, effective, accountable, and affordable to meet the specific requirements of the people of Greater Sudbury.
1.1. Responsibilities
The board is responsible for the following:
- Policies: The library’s operations will be governed by written policies that are determined and adopted.
- Planning Strategically: Create the library’s strategic goals and approve the plans for achieving them. Give feedback on the expected results.
- Advocacy: plan programs to meet the needs of the community and participate in them as well as support them.
- Funding: To support Greater Sudbury public library services, make a recommendation for the annual operating budget and capital forecast to Council and look for diverse revenue sources like grants and fundraising.
- Reporting: Make sure that appropriate local, provincial, and national bodies keep accurate public records. As your legal responsibility to the Library Council, provide an annual financial audit and practice sound fiscal management. The public and government officials should be informed. The library’s performance should be evaluated annually.
- Assessment of the CEO: Evaluate the CEO’s performance annually and create goals and objectives that everyone can support after receiving input.
2. CEO of the Library
The local library system is making efforts to become more robust and independent. According to board chair man Michael Bellmore, the move is in line with the Public Libraries Act and will assist the local system in gaining autonomy.
Even though the library is a part of the city of Greater Sudbury, Bellmore said that it is working toward becoming an external board. Brian Harding was appointed chief librarian and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Public Library. He has been in charge since January 31, 2202.
3. Greater Sudbury Public Library: Branches
This system of library has 13 locations. The main branch of the Mackenzie Library is located on Mackenzie Street in the city’s center. At one time, Tom Davies Square also had a non-lending reference branch. However, after renovations enlarged the Mackenzie building, this branch moved back to the Mackenzie location in 1998.
3.1. Largest Branch: Mackenzie Library
The biggest library in the City of Greater Sudbury is the Mackenzie Library Main Branch and through it, you can access maps, bilingual business directories, official documents, and a huge selection of books. Three other special collections can be found on the bottom level of the Reference Collection: Canadian Legal Materials, Genealogy, and the Mary C. Shantz Local History Collection. Mo
The public can also use sewing machines, 3D printers, and other tools in the makerspace inside the Mackenzie Library.
3.2. South End Library Branch
In 2009, a broken sewer caused parts of the South End Library branch’s floor to sink by 35 centimeters, rendering the structure unsafe. Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture designed a new branch that opened in 2012 in the same location for $4.9 million.
Outdoor reading and performance areas, spaces for kids and teens, and meeting rooms are all part of the new building.
4. The Collection
Everything from fishing rods to fiction can be found in the Greater Sudbury Public Library’s collection!
4.1. Language Learning Kits for Refugees
These kits can be checked out for up to six months to assist new residents in learning English. It includes two dictionaries—a bilingual Arabic-English dictionary and an English visual dictionary—one book about Canada, four bilingual Arabic-English books for children, and one book about Canada.
4.2. Local History
The Local History collection contains resources that are extremely valuable to the rich history of Greater Sudbury and must be viewed in the main library. The regular, circulating collection contains some books about local history that you can check out.
4.3. Maps
The reference, genealogy, and Mary C. Shantz Local History collection houses the map collection, which can be found on the research level of the main library. On-site consultation is possible with current and historical maps, gazetteers, and other maps. Although the library has some international atlases in its circulating collection, its map collection covers the entire country.
4.4. Microfilm and Microfiche
The Greater Sudbury Public Library’s microfilm and microfiche collection can only be accessed on the main library’s research level and this collection is a must-have for anyone with an interest in local history and genealogy.
4.5. Movies and Music
The library collects a wide range of movie and music genres, including pop, country, jazz, rock, aboriginal, instrumental, and CDs of movie and theater soundtracks (both in English and French); and indie films in English and French, as well as blockbuster hits, travel guides, parenting guides, and documentaries.
4.6. Newspapers and magazines
The Greater Sudbury Public Library provides access to a wide range of Canadian and international newspapers and magazines.
5. Accessibility
This Greater Sudbury public library is accessible via wheelchair. Therefore, anyone can come here and enrich their mind with knowledge. Other services include dog and cat licenses and workstation accessibility.
6. Website
http://www.sudburylibraries.ca/en/
End Note
By providing citizens with the highest-quality library services in their pursuit of reading, learning, education, and aspiration, the Greater Sudbury public library strives to enrich individuals’ lives and the spirit of the community.
Read more from us here.