2 4 ANNUAL REPORT
A Message from Margie Singleton, CEO of Vaughan Public Libraries
Enrich, inspire, transform – three words that encapsulate our vision and our values. They also speak to the power of libraries to shape who we are and the world we live in, and underline how we can be a force for good, resilience and betterment in a complex and turbulent world.
Libraries are the places where children take the first steps on their reading journey, eventually discovering worlds of infinite possibility and universes of the imagination. It’s where students find spaces to study and set their career path. The community comes here to discover more about who they are and how our world works, but also to escape and disappear into the pages of a good book. Libraries are spaces of peaceful solitude and gathering points for friends old and new.
Our City is growing, and our libraries and services are growing with it. In 2025, a new branch will open at Carrville, while a refreshed and revitalized Woodbridge Library will reopen its doors. New collections and services speak to our evolution, not just as a library system, but as a community. Programming continues to excel for all age groups, and the continued success of health and culinary literacy shows an appetite for new formats and topics of learning. We’ve increased our focus on programming and services to seniors, while also reaching out to schools and community groups to introduce them to our services. We continue to look for new sources of innovation and ways to bring our community together, and our world-class team is committed to delivering the warm and welcoming spaces that you have come to love.
VPL’s Vision Statement
Enrich Inspire Transform
VPL’s Mission
Vaughan Public Libraries
offers welcoming destinations that educate, excite and empower our community.
Over the following pages, you’ll see some of the highlights of 2024, and how we are working to make our community a better place.
Enjoy!
Margie
Library Usage Snapshot
2.7 million physical items borrowed
2.7 million visits to VPL’s website
1.7 million in-person visits
555,000 customer questions answered
405,000 Wi-Fi sessions
459,000 digital items borrowed
Benefit per cardholder: $1,200
Which is equivalent to either:
• 100 Children’s books
• 80 Children’s programs
• 57 Novels
• 171 Magazines
• 48 Board Games
• 24 Video Games
• 35 E-audiobooks
• 35 DVDs
• 17 Hours in the recording studio OR
• 11 Hours one-on-one with a librarian
For a young entrepreneur
Making prototypes in VPL’s maker space, plus entrepreneurship programs and all the access to the books you need to launch your business.
For a family with young children
For an older adult
A place to sit and stay awhile, enjoy the newspaper and connect with friends.
Free access canlook like...
Afternoon storytimes at the library, connect with other new parents and borrow a new book for storytime every single night of the year.
For a student
A safe place to connect with friends, do homework, work late during exam season, and access the latest games to kick back and relax.
Physical items include:
543,278 PHYSICAL ITEMS 425,000 Books 73,560 DVDs 8,751 CDs 18,659 Magazines
4,370 Audiobooks 8,066 Video Games
*Includes items like technology, tools, board games and culture passes.
37,692 DIGITAL ITEMS 4,872 Non-Traditional Items*
Materials are available in 19 languages!
Vaughan Public Libraries offers programs for all ages and interests. Here are just some of our 2024 highlights…
32,452
28,266 enjoyed early literacy and storytime programming attended family and children’s programming
8,567 participated in STEAM activities
7,000 students visited afterhours study halls
2,117 people entered our kitchen this year to enjoy a range of delicious culinary programming
300 people have attended health literacy programs
1,111 people relaxed with the Therapy Dogs
14,319 attended programs for adults
1,175 older adults joined in a range of activities from hikes to drumming circles
A total of 95,000+ program attendees at 3,300+ programs!
We added even more items to The Lendery (a library of things), and hosted a number of popular exhibits, including A Taste of Science.
We provided Providing access to popular attractions like:
3,104+ Culture Passes
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Black Creek Pioneer Village
• McMichael Canadian Art Collection
• Ontario Parks
2,621 Group Visits + more!
We were also active in reaching schools and community groups with:
13,787 Outreach Participants
3,603 Welcome Baby Kits
were distributed to babies born at Mackenzie Health Vaughan Hospital.
Volunteers
contributed 4,463 hours to programs like, Chess in the Library, D&D, ESL Conversation, Fun with French, Reading Buddies and Tech Tutor 1-on-1.
Under Construction: Upgrades to Woodbridge Library
ARCHITECT RENDERINGS
Coming Soon: New Libraries
OUR STAFF
Our greatest strength is the remarkable staff who constantly inspire us with their creativity, dedication, and commitment to their community.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
From left to right: Christine Fiorini (Deputy CEO Corporate Services), Aleksandra Dowiat Vine (Deputy CEO Growth & Communications), Margie Singleton (Chief Executive Officer), Lisa McDonough (Deputy CEO Customer Experience).
2023 - 2027 THE VAUGHAN PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Front row from left: Manjit Kaur, Palma Pallante, Gary Sangha (Board Chair), Margie Singleton (CEO), Antonella Nicaso (Vice Chair), Akash Goyal (2023 - 2024), Sara Camilleri
Back row from left: Richard Wu, Denise Da Ros-Presutti, Chris Ainsworth, Loreta Pavese, Mario Ferri, Marilyn Iafrate, Adriano Volpentesta, Lauri Hewitt, Mario G. Racco
Absent: Carol Herzog (2023 - 2024), Harpreet Rindi (2023 - 2024), Steven Del Duca (2024 - )
In 2024, Vaughan Public Libraries was proud to receive these prestigious awards:
5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer
Awarded to VPL by Canadian HR Reporter Magazine
Best Place to Work
Awarded to VPL by Canadian HR Reporter Magazine
ALA PRXchange Award For VPL’s What’s On magazine
LEED Platinum Certification
Awarded to the VMC Library
ABOUT THE LIBRARY
Vaughan Public Libraries respectfully acknowledges that our libraries were built upon the Territory and Treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation per the Toronto Purchase agreement or Treaty 13. We also recognize we are situated in the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee who occupied this land before the arrival of European settlers.
The City of Vaughan is currently home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We acknowledge their contributions to the life and prosperity of this land. As representatives of the people of the City of Vaughan, we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and live in this territory. We acknowledge we must do more to learn about the history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, and caretakers of this City.
