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Creating a sense of welcome and belonging is at the core of what we stand for here at the Whitby Library. Our staff works hard every day to nurture an environment of service excellence and community connection.  The Library also has a role to play in creating space for the sharing of insight and perspectives.

We are deeply saddened and frustrated with the discovery of swastikas in the washroom at the Central Library earlier this week. There is absolutely no room for hate or intolerance at the Whitby Public Library. 

Mary Anne Chambers is a person with a story to tell. Her long list of accomplishments includes being a member of the Order of Ontario, a notable provincial politician, and a passionate academic advocate.

Louis Hébert was hooked. As soon as he tried one of the 3D printers in the Discovery Zone at the Central Library, it sparked something in his creative brain. From a hobby to contributing crucial equipment for Canadian Paralympians, this is a story of a life-long learner who tried something new and ran with it.

Do you love a compelling book recommendation with quick, snappy vibes that helps you decide if it’s a fit? Look no further! We have something just for you. At the end of each year, our internal Staff champion of “give us the goods” on your favourite read, sends out a request across the Library to gather top picks. Yes, there is an excel spread sheet involved! The result is a literal gold mine of choices for your next reading adventure. 

It was a chilly day in late January when communities from different faiths around Durham Region gathered at the Central Library for a special celebration.  There was soon a sense of warmth as more than two hundred people took part in World Religion Day: Faith Through the Arts – an event organized by Durham Multifaith Community in partnership wit

Like most people, we get pretty excited about shiny new things! When the furniture delivery truck pulled up to the Brooklin Branch, our Staff were eagerly waiting for the moment they could rip the plastic off for the big reveal. The gorgeous chairs and couches looked exactly as we hoped. The warm tones that Brooklin Branch is famous for are complemented by the new furniture's splash of colour. 

We have big news to share! Your Whitby Library has recently made a major expansion in our World Languages Collections. We now have thousands more electronic materials in Tamil, Chinese, and Spanish. These new additions are just the beginning. We have more than 155,000 multilingual titles as eBooks and eAudiobooks on Overdrive!

Holy Batman! Did you hear the news? More than 1,500 people attended FanCon 2024 at the Central Library on Saturday, October 5. 

For almost a decade, fans embraced the Whitby Comic Arts Festival (WhitCAF) celebrating comic books and superheroes. The astounding response from the community inspired the planning team to take things up a notch for 2024. With big ideas to broaden the scope of the festival, the timing was right for a name change. WhitCAF became FanCon. 

We’re the first to admit it; we’re passionate when it comes to spreading the word about the amazing potential of a Whitby Library card.  There’s just so many endless possibilities! 

Hey Whitby writers! Thanks to you, our first annual poetry contest was a tremendous success. Our panel of judges was incredibly impressed by the scope of work that arrived in our submission boxes. It made it exceptionally difficult to choose finalists in our two categories! 

Congratulations to our winners and runner-ups.  A shout out to all of you who were brave enough to share your poetry. We're already looking forward to next year!

Aaron Walderman may not call himself a perfectionist, but when it comes to knowing what makes a great guitar, he knows one when he sees it. After searching for the ultimate guitar, the former engineer decided he could just make one for himself. In the early 80’s, he heard about a program at the Ontario College of Art that could teach him how to design and make his own guitar. That led to a lifetime passion for making musical instruments including the ukulele.

It seems like such a small thing. The simple act of tapping a seed out of a packet and pushing it around slowly in your palm. Once you marvel at the sheer potential of what you’re holding, next comes the step of gently planting the seed into the soil. A good pat on top of the dirt is usually hard to resist. Finally, it’s time to add a little water, and then comes the hard part: you wait expectantly to see what happens. It appears so effortless and yet, it's climate action personified. 

Durham Public Libraries, including Whitby, along with our partner Durham Children’s Aid Society(CAS), won the Ontario Library Association Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom award and the Joyce Cunningham Award at this years Super Conference. The Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award recognizes the courage shown by individuals and organizations in defending the rights of library patrons to full access to information.

No doubt about it, life is busy! It can be hard to squeeze in reading time each day. You know what we've found helps in the motivation department? Reading challenges! And we're talking for all ages. The benefits to curling up with a book are endless - never mind sitting down for one-on-one time with the kids for a book snuggle. It's pure magic.  But back to the busy problem. That's where we step in. We've created a one-stop-shop for all the latest reading challenges. Find one that fits and jump in!

WPL:  What was it like for you taking these portraits?

It can be overwhelming arriving somewhere completely unfamiliar. When newcomers move into Durham Region, it can be difficult to know where to find resources and information to help become a member of the community. That’s why we’ve launched a NEW service at the Library to help bridge the gap.