Ajax Public Library
 |
| Ajax Public Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | Ajax, Ontario, Canada |
| Established | 1952 |
| Branches | 3[1] |
| Collection | |
| Size | 235,000 (2022)[2] |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 886,546 (2022)[3] |
| Population served | 126,666 [4] |
| Members | 32,047[3] |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $6,706,600 (2023)[1] |
| Director | Sarah Vaisler |
| Parent organization | Town of Ajax |
| Website | ajaxlibrary |
Ajax Public Library is a public library system in Ajax, Ontario, Canada.
History[edit]
The first Ajax Public Library opened December 13, 1952.[5] This library contained 1,175 books and served a population of 4,057.[5]
A new main branch was constructed in 1967 as a Centennial project.[5] The new branch was built next to the original and led to a surge in library activity.[5] In 1974, the boundaries of Ajax were expanded to include Pickering Village, which resulted in the Ajax Public Library absorbing the village's library into its network. This second branch was called the Village Branch. This would be the first time there would be more than one Ajax library branch.[5] The Village Branch closed in 2019.[6]
Governance[edit]
The Ajax Public Library is governed by a nine-member board appointed by Ajax Town Council. The board is composed of eight citizen members and one councillor.[7]
Services[edit]
Collections[edit]
The library's collection count is 235,000 items and includes books, movies, music, magazines, audiobooks, book club kits, and daisy readers.[1]
Makerspace[edit]
The McLean branch contains a library makerspace.[8] This workspace gives library card holders access to specialized equipment for a small fee.[9] The Ajax Makerspace contains a vinyl cutting machine, 3d printer, soldering station, laser cutter, button/magnet maker, book/coil binder, and large format printer, among other digital tools.[10]
Technology[edit]
All branches of the Ajax Public Library include public access to computers and free wireless internet.[11] The library also loans mobile hotspots, which can be borrowed for up to 21 days.[11]
Digital content[edit]
An Ajax Public Library card gives access to different online services such as audiobooks, e-books, comics, and graphic novels, digital newspapers and magazines, movies and TV shows, and music.[12]
The library is partnered with Hoopla, which free offers access to different media such as audiobooks, ebooks, music and TV shows.[12]
Ajax Archives[edit]
The Ajax Archives was established by town council in 2010. In 2022, the management of the archives was transferred from the Town of Ajax to the Ajax Public Library.[1] The archives contain a collection of municipal records of permanent value and include photos, documents, and books. Many items in the collection have been digitized and can be accessed online.[13]
Branches[edit]
| Branch | Address | Notes | Opened | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Branch | 55 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S 2H8 | Part of the municipal complex that contains Ajax Town Hall. | 1967[14] | 
|
| McLean Branch | 95 Magill Dr, Ajax, ON L1T 4M5 | Contains a makerspace and is inside the McLean Community Centre. | 1994[15] | 
|
| Audley Branch | 1955 Audley Rd, Ajax, ON L1Z 1V6 | Located inside the Audley Recreation Centre. | 2019[16] |
The library previously operated the Village Library branch, which closed in 2019.[6]
See also[edit]
43°51′05″N 79°01′15″W / 43.8514°N 79.02088°W
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "2024 Operating Budget" (PDF). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "#ThrowbackThursday with Ajax Public Library" (PDF). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ a b "2022 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "Ajax, Town Ontario (Census Subdivision)". Census profile, Canada 2021 Census. Statistics Canada. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ a b c d e Archie Macdonald 1995, p. 258.
- ^ a b Keith Gilligan (June 12, 2019). "Ajax to close Village Library Branch". Ajax News Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ "Ajax Public Library Board". Ajax Public Library. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ "Makerspace @ McLean". Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Makerspace: Price List". Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Kristen Calis (July 11, 2023). "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? Makerspace coming to McLean library branch in Ajax". Ajax News Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ a b "Technology". Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Digital Collections". Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Ajax Archives". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Archie Macdonald 1995, p. 259.
- ^ Archie Macdonald 1995, p. 260.
- ^ Keith Gilligan (December 3, 2019). "'It's just so Ajax:' Expanded Audley Recreation Centre is now open". Ajax News Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
Bibliography[edit]
- Archie MacDonald, ed. (1995). A Town Called Ajax. The Ajax Historical Board. ISBN 0-9699465-0-3.
External links[edit]
