Newsroom

Georgina Public Library launches new Teen Space at Keswick Branch: April 21, 2023

Georgina Public Library is inviting Teens to the official opening of our new Teen Space at Keswick
Branch on Friday, May 5 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. We are celebrating the opening of the new space on
the PA Day when Teens are off from school. Teens will have an opportunity to hang out, play video
games, and enjoy some snacks.

“The planning for the space has been a long time coming,” says Amy Butcher, Manager Library
Community Engagement. “Funding for the new space was officially approved in 2019, but we
encountered delays with designing and developing the space due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are
excited for Teens to have their own space when they come to the Library.”

A splashy purple wall highlights the area in the Library. The space features a 55” TV with an Xbox
Series X, comfortable new furniture, and a mobile charging station. Teens will be able to borrow Xbox
controllers for free with their library cards to play pre-loaded games on the TV. The Young Adult
collection has been moved to surround the new space.

We look forward to welcoming more Teens to the library.

Georgina Public Library Goes Fine Free: March 24, 2023

As of Thursday, March 24, 2023, Georgina Public Library is fine free! This policy was formally adopted by the Georgina Public Library Board after running a two-year pilot on the impact of going fine free would have on library services.

From Valerie Stevens, Director of Library Services/CEO: “Going fine free has been a positive for our community. Fines are a barrier for people who want to use the library and disproportionately impact newcomers, teens, and families with young children. We hope more new people continue to use the library knowing they will no longer be charged late fees.”

Library users will still need to pay for lost or damaged library materials. Items are considered lost if they are more than one month overdue, so remember to return or renew your materials on time.
Download the Georgina Public Library app for Apple or Android to manage all your family’s accounts, including renewals, from your smart device.

Studies show that late fines generally account for less than 1% of library operating budgets and cost more in administrative effort to collect. For GPL specifically, late fines account for only 0.25% of the operating budget of the library. With the increasing popularity of digital materials, fines continue to be a declining source  of revenue for libraries.

If you would like to pay your fines forward or celebrate this milestone, please consider donating to Georgina Public Library. All donations go directly towards supporting our programs and services.

Town moves toward with construction of Multi-use Recreation Complex 

The Town of Georgina is moving forward with the largest project in its history – construction of the Multi-use Recreation Complex (MURC). Council today approved the full build which will include a Discovery Library branch.

 “After many years of planning, I am pleased we are moving forward with this important project that is essential for our growing community. It is a beautiful building destined to become a true community destination,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk. “The MURC will offer affordable, quality recreation and library services to our current residents as well as the growth that is coming to our community in the next few years. It will also be funded by development charges which means there will be no tax levy increase for residents.”

Construction of the MURC is anticipated to begin in September 2021 with anticipated completion and the facility open for use expected in the fall of 2023.

The anticipated project budget for the MURC is $50.2 million. It will be 100 per cent funded by development charges due to legislative changes at the provincial level. There will be no tax levy increases relating to the MURC capital and operating costs. The anticipated annual net operating costs for the MURC will be approximately $2 million. The entire amount will be funded through assessment growth, which is the new property taxes that will be collected from new development. As a result, there will be no tax levy increases relating to the MURC operating costs.

The project is designed with energy, environment, and occupant health and well-being in mind. It is being built to achieve a Gold level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, one of the highest rankings available. Some of the green design components include improving water efficiency, optimizing energy performance of heating and cooling systems, using sustainable materials, improved indoor air quality, maximizing use of daylight and drought resistant plants.

The recreation complex will be located on west side of Woodbine Avenue between Glenwoods Avenue and Ravenshoe Road. It will be a community space for the whole family and will include –

• Six-lane 25-metre pool
• Therapy pool
• Double gymnasium
• Indoor walking track
• Multi-use meeting/activity rooms
•  Active living space
•  Discovery Library branch

The Discovery Library branch will offer one-stop services, expanded programs and new technology options. The goal is to create an inclusive environment that offers multi-purpose and multi-generational spaces to serve as a community living room and hub.

The design for the MURC was developed with public and stakeholder consultation that included public input sessions, surveys and outreach throughout the Town at various community events. Information was shared on social media, in print and online on the dedicated Building Georgina webpage. A video was also created that highlighted the community involvement in the project.

To learn all about the MURC including real-time updates, please visit the Town of Georgina's website.

Media Contact: Tanya Thompson, Communications Manager: Office of the CAO

Phone: 905-476-4305, Ext. 2446. Email Tanya Thompson.  Or visit Town of Georgina.