Where can you find live reptiles, bioluminescence dance parties, a submarine murder mystery escape room, and green screen mermaid photos all in the same place? Your Whitby Public Library of course! And that’s just the beginning.
Are you and the kids ready to set sail for an exciting adventure? This year’s TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) theme, Dive In, is splashing with nautical vibes as we celebrate the many waterways that shape our planet and the magical creatures that call them home.
We acknowledge that this land is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We’re proud to be the first library in Durham Region to introduce a library membership available at no cost to people who live on a First Nations Reserve anywhere in the province and self-identify as Indigenous.
You came. You browsed. You shopped! Whitby couldn't get enough of our inaugural book sale. Close to 650 people showed up on Saturday, June 13 to support the Library and look for amazing deals. From exciting fiction finds to DVDs to children's story books, thousands of items flew out the door.
Following the lead of the Town of Whitby and many other public libraries, we’re excited to introduce a fresh way for you to discover our programs. Beginning this summer, we’ll be retiring our Program Guide and moving fully online.
All your favourite programs are still right at your fingertips! You can browse, explore, and register in seconds with just a click of a button.
Great news! Instead of first come, first served, you can now book one of three quiet study rooms using our new online reservation system. This includes our brand‑new Solo Study Room.
Congratulations to this year's winners of the Whitby Library's annual Poetry Contest! The judges had a challenging time picking from all the exceptional entries. Thank you to all of the talented writers who participated. You can read the winners work here.
Whitby Council has passed a motion that calls on the province to address what it calls a broken provincial-municipal funding framework that forces municipalities to use property taxes to cover billions of dollars in provincial responsibilities.
In recognition of the important role language plays in connecting us to our cultures and histories, the Whitby Library is launching an exciting new program in honour of National Indigenous Languages Day (March 31). Throughout the month of March at the Central Library, look for an Indigenous word-of-the-day that will highlight some of the languages spoken across Canada.
It has been three decades since the launch of Black History Month in Canada.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are almost here, and our athletes will soon chase gold in Milano Cortina! While the world watches, you can catch Olympic fever right here at home. The Whitby Library has exciting ways for you to connect, celebrate, and show your support for Team Canada alongside your community.
How does this sound? Songs, stories, and a cozy fort! Super fun, right? Rossland Branch is the place to be this Family Literacy Day, January 27 from 7:00-7:30 p.m. for a drop-in Fort Storytime.
We have a big night planned at the Central Library on Tuesday, December 9 that you won’t want to miss! Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Cozy Toes campaign, CTV’s beloved Toy Mountain is set to make Whitby its holiday home this season.
Lorraine Gray’s enthusiasm for the Whitby Public Library is infectious. For more than seven years, Lorraine, a professional engineer with Hydro One, sat on the Library board—two years as Chair. Lorraine is known as a library champion who has contributed to fostering a crucial community hub for the Town of Whitby. She will be stepping down at the end of this year to join the Boards of Lakeridge Health and Ontario Tech University.
In partnership with the Town of Whitby's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Library is hosting a special event on Saturday, November 8 to honour National Indigenous Veteran’s Day.
The wildly popular Doors Open Ontario is adding in-person events for the first time in several years!
The World Health Organization has declared October 10 World Mental Health Day and our staff here at the Library have been busy generating ideas to participate in this important event.
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!
Yes, it's here! The Whitby Library summer staff picks list is in and it's loaded with fantastic reads. This is no ordinary catalog of recommendations, this is a specially curated list with some of the best of the best with something for everyone!
Axolotls are having a moment! This endangered species has captured the imagination of animal lovers around the world. Axolotls are a wildly popular amphibian known for their adorable smiles and feather like fringe.
Did someone say free access to local attractions and activities? You bet. All you need is your Whitby Library card. We've recently added three new Community Passes to our collection.
There’s no doubt, community Seed Shares spread a whole lot of love for the planet. With that in mind, Earth Month is the perfect time to explore the Whitby Seed Share at the Central Library! This popular program has become a major hit with community members looking to experience the joy of growing their own plants and produce.
There’s only one way to describe the community’s reaction to the Library’s March Break Bluey programs: sensational! So sensational, in fact, this story has to be shared. Since the beloved Rossland Branch is our smallest location and staff anticipated a great deal of interest in the program, people were asked to register for capacity purposes. Staff were absolutely amazed to see more than 80 people line up on the day of the party to see if there was any room to join! Thanks to the quick acting efforts of staff and volunteers, everyone who showed up was able to participate.
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.
When Emma and Gabriella talk about the Whitby Library, their faces light up with such enthusiasm, it’s infectious. These two remarkable teenagers have been nominated for a 2024 Youth award from the Town of Whitby for their volunteering at t
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!
We’d like to get to know you a little better. Not just our regular patrons but other Whitby residents too! We’re always looking for new ways to improve and serve our growing community. That’s why we’ve asked Forum Research to conduct a public opinion survey on our behalf.
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.
Have you heard the buzz? All summer long, we’re handing out Library tote bags as part of our “Get Your Library Card” campaign. We want to spread the word far and wide about the endless possibilities that await as soon as you sign up for a Whitby Library card. How can you get a tote? Read on!
Hello summer! It’s what students have been waiting for all year. Remember that feeling? When the bell rings on the last day of school, that thrilling rush of excitement and a sense of utter freedom!
There’s no doubt, the topic of the summer slide can rain on this magnificent parade. The summer slide is a term used to describe the potential loss of academic learning over the summer months.
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!
Meet Manoj Tahiliani. This remarkable Whitby resident is a cardiologist by day and chess instructor by night! The Library is fortunate to have Manoj donate his time as a volunteer chess club instructor for Grades 2-8 at the Central Library. We sat down with Manoj to find out more about his passion for teaching the next generation how to play this legendary game.
It’s an exciting time for the Town of Whitby. The signs of enormous growth are all around us. The Library’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan will ensure we’re ready to meet the needs of our ever-changing community. Our new plan focuses on people first. Our Mission, Values, and Vision are rooted in connecting our customers by working together.
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 2024 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.
It's hard to land on one word to describe Celina Caesar-Chavannes. For many, she is known as a trailblazer. Celina was the first Black politician to federally represent the Town of Whitby (2015-2019). Author, social activist, entrepreneur, Chopra Certified Coach®, and speaker are also part of her impressive bio. But it's listening to Celina tell her story that leaves a deep connection to her inspiring narrative.
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!
Jacqueline Woods is a digital based photographer in Durham Region who specializes in documentary, portraits, and events. Her recent exhibit at the Central Library, The Human Behind the Photograph : Living on the Streets, featured a series of black and white photographs of people she met living on the street. We wanted to find out more about her inspiring work. Jacqueline shared her insight with us in this interview.
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.
