Rose Vespa Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Brantford Public Library

The Brantford Public Library Board today announced the appointment of Rose Vespa as Chief Executive Officer of the Brantford Public Library, effective January 2004. Ms. Vespa is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Lincoln Public Library.

During her time in Lincoln, Ms. Vespa has been instrumental in expanding programs and services and developing criteria for evaluation of their effectiveness. Experienced in municipal and provincial planning, she serves on a new Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Task Force to Develop Performance Measures for Public Libraries. She is also a member of the municipality's senior management team. Before joining the staff of Lincoln Public Library, she worked in the public libraries of Vaughan and Windsor and the Halton Catholic District School Board.

In making the announcement, Board Chairman Bruce Hodgson noted that The Brantford Public Library Board is pleased to have a leader of Rose Vespa's knowledge, stature, and experience as our new CEO. She understands the role of strategic planning and strategic thinking in developing strong communities and has been an effective contributor to community life. The Board looks forward to continuing its active leadership in working with community agencies and the public and its high quality, cost-effective library services.

The appointment follows a national search, assisted by the firm of Ken Haycock and Associates, to replace CEO Wendy Newman, who will retire at the end of December. The award-winning Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. It is the virtual university library for the Brantford Campus of Wilfrid Laurier University and is the only public library in North America to be invited to join the UNESCO Model Library Network. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.9 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

For more information contact:
Bruce Hodgson
Chairman, Brantford Public Library Board
Tel. (519) 753-2445
Fax (519) 751-0090
Email: barh@brant.net

Women in Municipal Politics Campaign School Materials Added to Local History Collection

Interested in politics? Think you can bring fresh ideas to the table? Are you a woman? Not sure where to start? If you need answers the Brantford Public Library has you covered. As follow-up to the successful Women in municipal politics campaign school held in January of this year, the conference materials, featuring What you need to know: A manual on organizing a municipal election campaign, have been added to the Library's local history collection.

Spearheaded by Marguerite Ceschi-Smith, a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Women's Caucus and local Brantford City Council member, the initiative encourages women to consider a political career. This 3-way partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University, The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the University Women's Club provides information on how to organize a municipal election campaign and encourages women to get involved. Women in decision-making positions in government provide leadership by redefining political priorities, placing new ideas on the agenda and providing new perspectives on mainstream issues, says Ceschi-Smith.

Remember, September 26, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. is the last day to submit your nomination to run for local council. If you're looking for information, look no further than your public library.

Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.9 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

For more information contact:
Paula Thomlison, Manager
Marketing, Communications and Development
756-2220 extension 343
Email: pthomlison@brantford.library.on.ca

Brantford Public Library Celebrates Canadian Books

Brantford Public Library will continue its tradition of celebrating Canada Book Day on April 23. The first 300 people to check out a book today at the Brantford Public Library will get more than some good reading.

In recognition of Canada Book Day, the Library will give out begonias with a small Canadian Flag to the first 300 customers to check out a book.

On Canada Book Day we celebrate the talents and achievements of our country's novelists, poets, biographers and non-fiction writers and we wanted to do something special for our customers, said Wendy Newman, the Library's Chief Executive Officer. The City Parks and Recreation Department and the office of the Hon. Jane Stewart assist the Library in this promotion.

Canada Book Day, held annually on World Book Day, is part of an expanded celebration of Canadian authors and books. Canada Book Week runs from April 21 to 27, 2003 with national and local events taking place across the country.

What better way to celebrate Canada Book Week than a reading with Canadian author Barbara Haworth-Attard. On April 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the Main Library, Ms. Haworth-Attard will read from her Silver Birch/Red Maple Award nominated novels Flying Geese and Silver Chain. Tickets for the event are available at both the Main Library and the St. Paul Avenue Branch. All tickets will be entered into a draw for a Book Lovers Gift Basket.

CBC Radio celebrates its second season of CANADA READS. Five Canadian personalities have chosen their favourite title from which the book CANADA READS will be selected. They will debate and deliberate their choices between April 21 and 25, 2003, during Canada Book Week. For more information on the five selected titles, go to www.cbc/canadareads or come into the Library to check out our selection of Canadian books.

Internationally recognized for successfully combining traditional services with the latest technology, Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.6 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

For more information contact:
Paula Thomlison, Manager
Marketing, Communications and Development
756-2220 extension 343
Email: pthomlison@brantford.library.on.ca

CEO Wendy Newman Announces Retirement

Wendy Newman today announced her plans to retire as the Chief Executive Officer of the Brantford Public Library, a role she's held since 1994. Newman's retirement will take effect on December 31, 2003, according to Bruce Hodgson, Chairman of the Brantford Public Library Board. Wendy's dedication, visionary leadership, high principles and passion for libraries are well known to the library community. She will be difficult to replace, said Mr. Hodgson.

It has been my privilege to serve the community of Brantford for nearly 10 years in my role as CEO of this wonderful library. I'm proud of the caliber of staff and volunteers we've been able to attract, and the significant results we've achieved during my tenure at Brantford Public Library, Newman said. Now it's time to move on. I plan to spend more time with my husband, but will also remain connected to the library world. I will be Librarian in Residence at the Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto, where I will be working with the next generation of librarians and information specialists.

Under Wendy's leadership and commitment to partnership, Brantford Public Library has pursued a number of innovative and award-winning initiatives that established its leadership in the library community. Internationally recognized for successfully combining traditional services with the latest technology, it also serves as a virtual university library for Brantford campus students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Brantford Public Library is the first public library in North America to be invited to join the UNESCO Model Library Network. Not only did she identify the challenges facing libraries today, she demanded innovative results, Hodgson added.

Since taking on the role of CEO of the Brantford Public Library in 1994, she has consistently put Brantford Public Library out front in the areas of planning, advocacy and partnership development. She has worked tirelessly with the volunteer members of the Library Board to engage the support, partnership and trust of its funding Council.

Professor Lynne Howarth, Dean of the Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto says We are pleased to welcome a librarian of Wendy Newman's stature as the Librarian in Residence. Students will gain from being able to interact with someone with such varied experience. Her extensive background in the development of policies associated with information issues and her strong advocacy skills are also assets.

As the current President of the Canadian Library Association, Wendy Newman contributes significantly to issues and policies that develop and support library and information services in Canada. Her strong personal conviction on the role that public libraries play in education, culture and information is evident in her leadership of this national organization.

Ms. Newman's leadership is recognized both nationally and internationally. She has been a member of the National Broadband Task Force, the Smart Communities Blue Ribbon Panel, the Advisory Group on Connectedness of the Conference Board of Canada, and a mentor at the Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute.

She is an acclaimed speaker, a volunteer trainer for Library Advocacy Now and is on the Board of the Media Awareness Network. Wendy's recent receipt of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal is evidence of her contribution to public libraries and their importance in the community.

The Brantford Public Library Board will begin a formal recruiting process to select Ms. Newman's replacement.

For further information:
Paula Thomlison, Manager Marketing, Communications and Development
Tel.: 519-756-2223, ext. 343
Fax: 519-756-4979
Email: pthomlison@brantford.library.on.ca

Parenting the Net Generation Theme of Canada's First Web Awareness Day

On February 20, 2003, Brantford Public Library CEO, Wendy Newman, in her role as President of the Canadian Library Association, will join National Librarian Roch Carrier, the Media Awareness Network (MNET) and Bell Canada in Ottawa for the national launch of Canada's first Web Awareness Day. Under the theme Parenting the Next Generation it's not just by the book anymore, Web Awareness day will profile the practical resources available to parents at Canadian public libraries to help them Get Net Smart.

As part of Web Awareness Day, Brantford Public Library has organized several initiatives that will help families to become safe and savvy Internet users. Practical information, tips and tools designed to help parents manage their family's Internet use is available at both the Main Library and the St. Paul Avenue Branch Library. Children need to know the difference between being informed and being sold to and between fact and fiction on the Net. They also need the basics of safe passage and protecting their privacy online, says Wendy Newman.

This internal software will equip our children for a safe and enjoyable cyberspace experience. To support parents in their efforts to provide positive online experiences for their families, three Web Awareness Workshops will be held on March 3rd, 20th and 25th at the Main Library at 7:00 p.m. Please call the Main Library at 756-2220 for registration information.

The Kiwanis Club of Brantford has invited Paula Thomlison, Manager of Marketing, Communication and Development for the Brantford Public Library to address their membership today on the issues arising when young people go online, and what we can do to help children and youth develop an informed and critical understanding of the media. The Internet is a rich and wonderful learning tool for children, but just as we teach kids to be street smart, we also need to teach them to be net smart. We all can play a role, she said.

Internationally recognized for successfully combining traditional services with the latest technology, Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.6 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

For more information on how you can Get Net Smart, call the Main Library at 756-2220 or check out the Brantford Public Library Web site: www.brantford.library.on.ca

Further information:
Paula Thomlison, Manager Marketing, Communications and Development
Tel.: 519-756-2223, ext. 343
Fax: 519-756-4979
Email: pthomlison@brantford.library.on.ca

Walter Gretzky, Herb Carnegie are featured speakers

The Brantford Public Library, in partnership with North Park Collegiate, has invited two well-known public figures to speak at the library's Celebrating Great Lives event on Thursday, February 13, 2003. Walter Gretzky, author of On Family, Hockey and Healing and Herb Carnegie author of A Fly in a Pail of Milk, will take the stage of the North Park Collegiate Gymnasium at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow. This Library-sponsored event is open to the public and is free of charge.

No stranger to Brantford, Mr. Gretzky will share his story of grit and determination as he battled back from an aneurysm that left him with many challenges. Mr. Gretzky will also welcome Herb Carnegie to the City.

Herb Carnegie's appearance celebrates Black History Month at the Library. Back in the 1940's he was one of Canada's great hockey players. A quick and elegant center, he was the teammate of Jean Beliveau in Quebec City.

As the star player in the Quebec Senior League, he was just one step away from the NHL. Voted the most valuable player three years in a row, but Herb Carnegie never played a shift in the NHL. Mr. Carnegie is black. And back in those days, that was enough to keep a player, even one with his amazing talent, out of the NHL.

These great lives represent two of the inspiring life journeys in our Library, says CEO Wendy Newman. We are thrilled to have both Mr. Gretzky and Mr. Carnegie here to share their stories. This partnership with North Park Collegiate opens the event to a large group of students, too.

Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.9 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

Further information:
Paula Thomlison, Manager Marketing, Communications and Development
Tel.: 519-756-2223, ext. 343
Fax: 519-756-4979
Email: pthomlison@brantford.library.on.ca

Brantford Public Library receives award recognizing excellence

The Brantford Public Library was awarded the Angus Mowat Award of Excellence at the 100th Annual Conference of the Ontario Library Association this past weekend in recognition of its Virtual University Library partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University. The award, created by the Ontario government in 1985, honours individual libraries for excellence in public library service.

The Brantford Public Library's partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University's Brantford Campus is a proactive, technologically innovative service that features a public library functioning as a virtual university library. We are deeply honoured to be given this award, and recognized by our peers in the Ontario Library Community, says Brantford Public Library Chair, Bruce Hodgson.

Through the use of technology, and a strong commitment to collaboration, the Brantford Public Library is the first public library anywhere to engage its staff and infrastructure in the provision of virtual library services. We are constantly defining and reinventing the library without compromising our traditional commitments. This innovative partnership with Wilfrid Laurier is one more way in which we can deliver superior service by combining traditional services with the latest technology, says CEO Wendy Newman. We are thrilled to be recognized for this achievement.

The partnership benefits the Brantford community as well as the Laurier students. All Brantford Public Library members are eligible for courtesy cards to access material from Wilfrid Laurier University, and Laurier Brantford Students can make use of any of the material at Brantford Public Library.

Brantford Public Library serves the 86,000 residents of Brantford and has reciprocal arrangements with the County of Brant Public Library. Members of the community have come to rely on Brantford Public Library as a great place to find information on everything from auto repair to zoology. Last year, citizens accessed over 3.9 million Web pages and checked out more than 690,000 books, videos, and other resources from the library.

Further information:
Wendy Newman, CEO
Tel.: 519-756-2223, ext. 4
Fax: 519-756-4979