What a summer of storytelling we’ve had, and we’re not done yet! For the past couple of months, we’ve met inspiring Library ambassadors with great stories to share! From our spaces, collections, programs, digital content, and Discovery Zones, we've been hearing about the profound impact the Library has on our patrons. And also, our staff! The two ambassadors for our digital content story are Mary Beth from Borrower Services at the Central Library, and Alex, the Manager of Information Services.
Whitby Public Library (WPL): Hello! So, word has it you both use digital content a lot! Tell us how digital content weaves its way into your worlds.
Alex: For me, I use mainly eBooks and some eAudiobooks. I love that I can always have a book with me! When I was on the train commuting for school, I got into eBooks. I like the portability of having a library at your fingertips because literally anything I feel like reading; I can usually find. I also like listening to an eAudiobook before bed when I don't want to think. It gives me something to focus on and keeps my brain calm.
Mary Beth: Me too. I find eAudiobooks relaxing. I like to listen to a lot of books when I garden or when I'm knitting, when I'm cooking or baking, just something in your ears.
WPL: What are the pros and cons of digital content versus traditional content?
Alex: I think digital content allows you to try more things and go out of your comfort zone. I think my completion rate of eBooks is probably far less than a physical book. If you don't read it, that's okay. It returns itself. I can only think of a lot of pros, but I still like a physical book for stories that have a lot of detail or characters like fantasy books. I enjoy the ability to easily go back and, you know, who's that character again?
Mary Beth: eAudiobooks to me are such escapism. There’s also so much flexibility. If you start the book and you don't like the narrator, there have been times when I said, I think I want to get the hard copy for this one. There's just more freedom.
WPL: Narrators for eAudiobooks seem to be a huge thing!
Mary Beth: Definitely! I've actually searched for other eAudiobooks by a narrator recently because I liked them so much! I may not have listened to them if it wasn’t for the narrator.
Alex: Sometimes, I just don’t connect with the voice, and I stop listening. I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about narrators.
Mary Beth: A lot of celebrities are doing them now. And did you know they have eAudiobook narration awards? I think this makes eAudiobooks even more mainstream and will increase their popularity.
WPL: Is digital content easy to use?
Alex: Oh, my goodness, yes. Just pick an app like Libby or hoopla, for example, and search for Whitby Public Library. It usually asks for your library card number and your pin. Some of our services do things differently but you either make your account or log in and then you can just start borrowing. There’s so much more to digital content then just eBooks and eAudiobooks, like LinkedIn Learning and Creativebug. But I do love a good eBook.
WPL: When it comes to eAudiobooks, what do you listen to most?
Alex: I love science fiction and dystopia. I also really enjoy listening to nonfiction because it can be like a podcast sometimes. The chapters are more succinct opposed to one full narrative. So, if you want to listen to just one chapter or one topic, it's more bitesized. And for an eBook, I love a good light sci-fi romance for a beach read.
WPL: What would you say to someone who has never tried digital content?
Mary Beth: Just try it! Some people are intimidated but I just like to show them when I’m at the front desk. I walk them through the quick process, and they’re just thrilled to start using all our content!
Alex: Not everybody loves the idea of interfacing with an app or having to download it. But staff can help people move past that. We have one-on-one tech appointments for anyone interested in trying eBooks or eAudiobooks and just learning how to use the apps and download them. We can help people navigate all the content by booking an appointment with staff, and we can get them set up.
WPL: What do you see for the future of digital content?
Mary Beth: I see a lot of younger people that always have something in their ear, so they can listen to whatever they want. I think we will always have our physical collection, but I see an even higher percentage of options being available in digital.
Alex: I also think digital content is already so accessible with adjustments for visual impairment and fonts for dyslexia. I think we're going to see further increase of accessibility options for the public
Mary Beth: I agree, and eAudiobooks can be helpful for those with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s and those in long-term care facilities. There’s really so many possibilities for people to access and enjoy digital content at their fingertips.
WPL: Thank you both!
Looking to get started? Our digital content is available 24/7! If questions pop up, drop by any of our three locations or call or email us and our staff will be ready to help!
My Community. My Library. A new designer finds inspiration in our Discovery Zones!
We are continuing our summer-long series meeting Library ambassadors with a great story to share! Whether it’s our spaces, collections, programs, digital content, or Discovery Zones, it’s been inspiring to hear about our patrons’ enthusiastic connections to the Library. Tracey recently moved from the Philippines and has quickly made Whitby, including the Central Library, her new home.
Tracey is a major fan of the Discovery Zones – including one piece of equipment in particular. We sat down with this recent college grad to find out more about her passion for printing!
Whitby Public Library (WPL): Hello Tracey! Before we ask about your work, we understand you visit the Library often. What’s it like when you walk through the doors of the Central Library?
Tracey: It feels like taking a break. I don’t live far from here and sometimes when I’m out walking without really planning on where I’m going, I end up at the Library just to look at stuff. It feels like a sanctuary. It’s one of the last places you can just go hang out and not really do any specific thing and you can just exist in the space.
WPL: That sounds peaceful.
Tracey: Yes, it is. Most people don’t realize it’s a privilege to have access to these services because in many places in the world, you don’t really have a public space like this. Like where I come from, the Philippines, it’s only the cities that have libraries, not the smaller towns. I just arrived in Canada three years ago, but my mom has been here longer. She told me about how amazing it is here at the Whitby Library.
WPL: Tell us a little bit about yourself. We understand you’ve just completed a diploma at college.
Tracey: I just graduated as a graphic designer. Design was my thing throughout secondary school. It was an area I excelled in, and my peers and teachers recognized that. So, I think that’s the main reason I chose to pursue it professionally.
WPL: How have the Discovery Zones helped with your studies?
Tracey: Well, I’ve used it a lot. One of my college professors recommended it to me. He said the large format printer would work really well for my projects. And the Discovery Kits too! We had to practice small object photography for our classes.
WPL: What do you like most about the equipment you use?
Tracey: I think the accessibility and the price, because it’s worth it compared to other commercial printers. The Library offers better prices. The quality of the paper is also exactly what I need. I even browse your collections for making my mood boards for projects and I’ve used the graphic design-related books from here.
WPL: What is your favourite thing to design?
Tracey: I love branding and posters. I don’t want to sound like I’m hyping it up too much, but the posters really turn out well! One of the coolest things I did was a vinyl record cover. And I have to say, that it’s not all about school. As a newcomer, I was really looking for new things to do and I saw your Seed Share. I tried it and it’s really got me into gardening!
WPL: That’s amazing! What do you hope to do with your training? Is there a particular field you’re looking to pursue in design?
Tracey: I really want to go into package design. That’s why I’m familiarizing myself with printers. I recently worked part-time at a printing shop where I did a lot of cool things like t-shirt printing.
WPL: What would you tell someone who feels a little intimidated about trying the equipment in the Discovery Zones?
Tracey: Don’t be shy because everyone is a beginner. The Library staff is also here to help you and aren’t going to hold it against you that you don’t know how to use it.
WPL: Any last thoughts, Tracey?
Tracey: I’d like to encourage youth or people my age to come to the Library because this is a place where you don’t have to spend anything and just have fun.
WPL: Thank you so much, Tracey, for making time for us!
Never visited our Discovery Zones before? There’s so much to explore! From photo printers to scanners to Adobe Creative Cloud Software to button makers and laminators, there’s something for everyone to try. And don’t forget the Central Library also has a state-of-the-art sound recording booth. Our staff is here to help. Drop by and be amazed at what you can create using our Discovery Zones!
My Community. My Library. – A connection to our spaces.
You’d be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about the Library than My-Lihn. Without any effort at all, this super fan can list dozens of things she loves about the Whitby Library.
“I’ve been coming here for close to 20 years,” says My-Lihn. “The Library is a gift to yourself. It’s a place to set aside time for you and the staff make each experience seamless. It’s not just a sense of belonging. It’s a buried treasure.”
As we spend the summer exploring five of our most valued services, My-Lihn is someone who connects deeply with our spaces. You might think of bricks and mortar or the aesthetic inside. It is those things for this power user but it’s also everything a public library represents.
“As a teacher librarian, I use your resources to support the education of my students. I collected seeds from your amazing Seed Share and then grew them with students and staff. They visited the school library regularly to check on their plants to watch them grow. There was such a sense of wonder.”
My-Lihn is always on the lookout for new educational ideas. She was so impressed with how many resources were available at a Library partner program with the Muslim Women of Durham Region, she took material back to her classroom and built her own display with the information.
Watching My-Lihn talk about “her” Library, it’s easy to see she is a natural champion for libraries in general. “It’s a buffet, really if you think about it. Just try something and see if it lands. Because there’s no cost, there are no limitations. It’s not just one meal on your plate. Just go for it!”
As we sit and talk in a cozy corner of the Central Library, My-Lihn’s eyes roam the space around us. “When I walk through these doors, I feel a sense of equity. It’s a place that’s accessible to all. It levels the playing field. It doesn’t matter how many zeros are behind your name. It feels truly barrier free.”
As a Whitby resident who has been coming to the Library for many years, My-Lihn is amazed at the growth. “I bring my family and friends here all the time and I tell them about how much everything has expanded! From the Discovery Zones to the explosion in teen programs to your innovative programs. It’s just amazing.”
Talking about the benefits of a library card is a breeze for My-Lihn. “I know it sounds cliché but it’s an invitation to curiosity. And hey, it’s summer and you get to explore without traveling.”
With this community champion in our corner, we know we’re in good hands. Feel inspired? We’re hoping you can help us by encouraging everyone in your circle to sign up for a Whitby Public Library card. Together, we can help others discover a buried treasure.
My Community. My Library. – A love story fuels a new hobby.
Infectious. That’s the word that pops to mind when you hear Lucy talk about the latest book she’s read from her TBR pile (To Be Read!) It’s hard not to feel inspired by this Whitby teenager’s tremendous energy when she shares her love for reading.
“I practically lived at the Rossland Branch as a kid,” says Lucy. “I’d finish my visit and then go home and make my own library and pretend I was checking out books. Other people might be into TV shows or video games—reading is my thing!”
As part of our My Community. My Library. summer library card campaign, we’re spending the next few weeks focusing on five of the Library’s most valued services: our collections, programs, spaces, digital content, and Discovery Zones. We have five amazing ambassadors to represent each of our topics. For our collections, Lucy is our passionate reading ambassador with a twist. Lucy’s story is about an avid bookworm who embraced a new hobby thanks to a love story.
“First of all, I just adore Ali Hazelwood. The whole enemies-to-lovers story will always work for me. I’m a huge romance fan. I’ve also always been interested in chess. My grandfather was a great player. He passed away before he could teach me, but it’s always stayed with me. When I saw one of my favourite authors had a book [Check & Mate] with chess as a major storyline, I was like, what a great combination: romance and chess!”
The rest, as they say, is history. Lucy read Check & Mate in a day and instantly began researching the rules of chess. She found non-fiction books at the Central Library to help learn the game’s strategy and downloaded a chess app. That’s not to say Ali Hazelwood’s influence was ever far away. Lucy annotated the book with colour coded stickies.
“My notes mark passages based on sad, cute, funny, and chess things. I really learned a lot about the game. Now to be clear, I’m a not very good, but I’m loving it!”
Chess also came at a pivotal moment in Lucy’s life.
“Sometimes, I come home from school and set up my board and take a deep breath —it clears my mind. It feels very calming, like “ahhh.” I feel more in control. It really helps me with relaxation and fun. Like it was meant to be.”
As a long-time library volunteer, Lucy saw another opportunity to expand her love of the game. When she heard the Library chess club was growing, she jumped at the chance to work with children.
“I love playing with kids. One of them beat me in, like, seconds with this huge move!”
As Lucy gets ready to begin post-secondary education this fall, her chess board will be packed in her luggage. When asked why the game means so much to her, Lucy takes her time to consider the question.
“It’s an area in life where I feel like I have more control. There are so many things I can’t do anything about, but with chess, I can plot a strategy, plan my game, choose my pieces, and it feels really good.”
We’d love for you to share the Library love by encouraging your friends and families to sign up for a Whitby Public Library card. A new favourite read, and even a new hobby, could be one move away for the win!