June 7, 2023
PC Connect Library Bus Pass Launch
PERTH COUNTY, ON – The County of Perth and the Perth County Information Network (PCIN) are excited to announce the launch of the NEW PC Connect Library Bus Pass Collection – a FREE PC Connect fare pass available for residents to borrow from their local library! Effective Monday, June 12, 2023, the PC Connect Library Bus Passes will be available at all PCIN Libraries, which includes Listowel, Atwood, Monkton, Milverton, Mitchell, Stratford and St. Marys branches. Residents will be able to use their borrowed bus pass to get anywhere along all 5 PC Connect routes, as many times needed during the 4-day loan period.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with the PCIN to further the accessibility of public transportation across our region.” said Maggie Kerr, Transit Project Coordinator. “Our partnership with the PCIN will further alleviate transportation barriers for residents, while also promoting the use of our PC Connect Transit Service. Residents are encouraged to borrow a PC Connect Library Bus Pass whenever they need to access basic needs such as employment, appointments, and visiting friends and family; or are simply looking to enjoy a new adventure without having to worry about the cost of transportation.”
Launched in November of 2020, PC Connect is funded by the Government of Ontario’s Community Transportation Grant Program. Since launch, the service has welcomed over 20,000 riders aboard its fleet of 5 buses. PC Connect operates 5 routes Monday to Saturday, serving Perth County, Stratford, St. Marys, Kitchener/Waterloo and London.
For route maps, schedules and more information about PC Connect, please visit: perthcounty.ca/pcconnect
Media Contacts:
Maggie Kerr
Transit Project Coordinator
Perth County
mkerr@perthcounty.ca
519-301-3582
Hayley Dietz
Coordinator of Digital Initiatives
North Perth Public Library
hdietz@northperth.ca
519-291-4621
June 11, 2022
Lions Club Donation
At our monthly Read to the Animals program at the Lions Park, the Mitchell Lions Club donated $1600 to the Library to be used for library operational programming expenses.
Board Chair Jesse Britton accepted the donation on behalf of the West Perth Public Library. Plans are to use the donation for larger community events that charge a fee, such as author visits and animal education groups.
April 4, 2022
WPPL is now fine free!
As of April 4, 2022, over 99% of Perth County Information Network collections (North Perth, Perth East, St. Marys, Stratford and West Perth) are fine free! In addition, existing late fines on borrower cards have been forgiven.
Borrowers are still encouraged to return their materials on time. Materials will continue to have their regular loan period and will be automatically renewed up to three times, if the item is not on hold. Libraries will continue to send reminders to customers when items are past due. Long overdue items will be billed and starting May 2022, a material recovery service will assist in the retrieval of lost materials. Full details here.
March 22, 2022
Library Annual Report
The Library's 2021 Annual Report was presented to the Library Board.
December 30, 2021
West Perth Public Library has received Re-Accreditation
In 2021, West Perth Public Library achieved Re-Accreditation.
From "Ontario Public Library Guidelines Monitoring and Accreditation Council" website:
The Ontario Public Library Guidelines are developed by the Ontario public library community to help improve the quality of public library service across the province. The Guidelines are important not only for libraries pursuing accreditation but as a process for boards, CEOs, and library staff to assess their governance, management, and services against best practices. Libraries can work with the guidelines to develop a comprehensive process and plan for improvement.
Key Benefits of Accreditation:
- Evaluation of local library service and direction for development
- Improved accountability
- Assistance in the planning process
- Consistency of public library service across Ontario
- Enhancement of the library’s position in the community and with funding bodies
There are 41 accredited library systems in Ontario.
December 1, 2021
Auto-Renewal (from December 1, 2021)
With Auto-Renewals, items on your account will automatically renew 3 days before they are due. Most physical items borrowed (books, DVDs, audiobooks) are eligible for 3 auto-renewals
Opting In / Out
All library members will be signed up for Auto-Renewal but you may opt out at any time by contacting the library at 519-348-9234 or askwppl@pcin.on.ca.
Notifications
Customers who are signed up for email notifications will receive a notice 3 days before their items are due indicating which items have been renewed and which have not. The loan period for items that renewed are extended from the original due date.
You can also check the status of your items at anytime by checking your account on the online catalogue.
Items that do not Auto-Renew
The following items are not eligible for Auto-Renewal
- items that have reached renewal limit
- items with holds
- ILLO items (items borrowed from outside of PCIN)
- X-press items (2 day DVDs)
- Downloadable materials (eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines)
- Book Club kits
November 1, 2021
Library Hours are Expanding
Starting Monday, November 1, hours at the West Perth Public Library are increasing. Hours of operation going forward will be:
- Monday - Thursday 10am - 8 pm
- Friday/Saturday 10am - 5 pm
Please see the Locations and Hours page for holidays when the Library will be closed. These will also be posted on our social media at the appropriate times.
Proof of vaccination is not required to enter the library. Please continue to follow our safety measures including wearing a mask and physical distancing in the library.
June 30, 2021
Library Services in Step 3
Important: The wearing of face masks is part of the province's guidelines. Hand sanitizer must be used upon entry and physical distancing must be maintained.
- The library is open for in-person visits. Patrons may enter the library to pick up holds and browse.
- Public computer use is permitted. It is not necessary to call ahead to book a computer appointment: however, there is limited public computer capacity. If you wish to ensure a spot, you may call to book an appointment time. Appointment times will be held for 5 minutes.
All fines continue to be waived until libraries can fully reopen.
Library staff is happy to have patrons back in the library! Let us know how we can help.
Library Hours have not changed
- Monday - Thursday 2 pm - 8 pm
- Friday/Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
June 30, 2021
Library reopens for in-person visits June 30
Most of the province is entering Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan on June 30.
June 18, 2021
Computer Appointments and Curbside
Today we are able to offer public computer use by appointment. Curbside pickup remains in place until Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen Plan.
Curbside Hours (have not changed)
- Monday - Thursday 2 pm - 8 pm
- Friday/Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
The building is closed to the public with the exception of computer appointments.
April 8, 2021
Curbside Pickup continues
On April 16, 2021 further health and safety restrictions were announced by the Province.
April 8, 2021
Curbside Pickup and Computer Appointments remain
On April 8, a province-wide stay-at-home order was issued. After clarification, libraries are able to maintain offering curbside pickup and computer appointments.
These are the services WPPL is offering (fuller details below):
- curbside pickup of holds and printouts
- computer appointments up to 45 minutes
- telephone, email and online assistance
- online resources
- take-home activities
April 1, 2021
Return to Curbside Pickup
Starting Saturday, April 3, 2021, curbside pickup resumes for the duration of the provincial Emergency Brake Shutdown.
Curbside Hours (have not changed)
- Monday - Thursday 2 pm - 8 pm
- Friday/Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
The building is closed to the public with the exception of computer appointments.
March 19, 2021
Retirement of Library Board Chair
Charles Fitzsimmons has recently retired as our long-time Library Board chair. He has put countless hours into promoting and advocating for the Library over the years. As a thank you for his decades of service, he was presented with a beautiful watercolour of the West Perth Public Library, created by local artist Nancy Walsh Watercolours. Thank you Charles and we wish you all the best!
February 22, 2021
Changes in Library Hours
We are now offering evening hours again. Due to staffing considerations, we are open the following modified hours:
Monday - Thursday 2 - 8 pm, Friday/Saturday 10am - 2 pm
February 16, 2021
Library Re-opens with end of Stay-at-home Order
Huron-Perth is exiting the provincial Stay-at-home order into the Orange-Restrict Zone. Our library services are changing to correspond.
Library Hours Feb 16-20
Tuesday-Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 2pm
January 14, 2021
Book Bundles have arrived
WPPL has started to offer themed Book Bundles. Each bundle contains 5-6 picture books on one theme. Perfect for quickly grabbing a number of books for bedtime stories when you're unsure what to order online. These will eventually be displayed in the picture book area for easy access. However, during curbside pickup, please ask for a bundle when you're picking up since they cannot be placed on hold.
December 28, 2020
Curbside Pickup Resuming
Starting Monday, December 28, 2020, we are resuming curbside pickup for the duration of the provincial lockdown.
Curbside Hours
- Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm
- Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
The building is closed to the public. Computer appointments are not permitted.