Agincourt District Libraries Blog

Looking Back...

It's that time again! Time to look back, reflect, and give ourselves a big pat on the shoulder for all our accomplishments throughout the year.  It was another busy year at Agincourt branch, and as 2011 winds down, we are still amazed at all the programs and events we had here at Agincourt Branch!  As always, we had something for everyone and patrons of all ages, from babies to seniors, teens to adults.  It was all happening at Agincourt branch: fitness, arts and crafts, astronomy, science, volunteering, health and wellness, finance and our fantastic children's programs.

Some of our 2011 highlights included:

• February saw teens and tweens celebrating Anti-Valentine's Day, showcasing fun food such as broken heart cookies, contests and crafts. 
• We hosted Thought Exchange programs featuring lively discussions about advances in science and astronomy.
• In May we celebrated Asian Heritage Month learning how to carve elaborate fruits and vegetables and were treated to a workshop by the Starlight Cantonese Opera company.
• Toronto Public Library's own Dewey made an appearance at our third annual Customer Appreciation Day in June.
• A Health Agency Fair was held in August highlighting information from different community health and wellness organizations, and our second annual Volunteer Fair in October was once again a popular event.
• In November, Agincourt branch turned twenty years old.  To mark this special occasion we hosted an open house featuring a puppet show starring Agincourt's Youth Advisory Group, a display featuring pictures of the building of Agincourt branch, a huge book sale and, of course, cake and refreshments.  Happy Birthday Agincourt Branch!!
• Finally, to mark the holiday season, Agincourt staff performed a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.  Mulled cider, cookies, and Thrilling Tales rounded out the year.

Let's not forget about our wonderful ongoing Children's Ready for Reading programs, volunteer programs like Leading to Reading and the Youth Advisory Group, and our popular Computer Classes for adults. 

We could not have done it without such a great community. Thank-you for making 2011 such an overwhelming success!  Here's to making 2012 just as successful.  See you next year!

 

 

For more information on programs at your library, check our website  http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/

You can even sign up for email updates!

 

A Christmas Carol at Agincourt

2012 User Education Classes at Agincourt Library

Get on with it! Don't let the Information Age pass you by! Register for a class and learn something new.  Conducted by our skilled staff, sessions include: Move that Mouse, Web Basics I & II, MS-Word Basics Pts I (Create & Save a File) & II (Editing & Templates); E-Mail Made Easy;  Facebook Pts I (Create an Account) & II (Managing Your Account), YouTube Basics, Move that Mouse (in Cantonese), and Web Basics I (in Cantonese). Register in person at the 2nd floor reference desk; or call 416-396-8950. Registration begins on the second Monday of every month and is limited to 10 participants. Download User Education (General) flyer_2012

Future Leaders at Agincourt's Tables

"It's like a classroom in here!" a patron tells me jokingly.

And it's an apt description, for should you visit Agincourt library on a Saturday, you would see every table, study carrel, nook, and inch of floor space teeming with hard-working students.

High schoolers, university students, and adult learners are all in evidence, studying anatomy, math, engineering, art history, English, psychology, and a variety of other subjects. Their concentrated faces scan open library books, turn blue from their laptop glare.

Along the northern edge of the library, before the windows revealing the outside world that our patrons give up for a day of study, silence is maintained. Only the occasional typing click and text-message buzz breaks it.

This afternoon, I counted 85 students working away on all available surfaces at Agincourt library. 85 patrons chose Agincourt as their location for studying, revealing another key aspect of library service for our community. It's not just our programs or the collections that patrons value in our branch. For many, a comfortable working area in a public space is a crucial component of their studying needs.

I like to think that at Agincourt library our spaces aren't just crowded with students. They are filled by future scientists, artists, academics, technicians, professionals, and leaders of our future society.