Richmond Hill Public Library

Richmond Hill Public Library (RHPL)
Established 1852 as a Mechanics Institute
Branches 4
Collection
Items collected business directories, phone books, maps, government publications, books, periodicals, genealogy, local history
Access and use
Circulation 2,581,761 (2012)[1]
Other information
Budget $9,873,839 (2012) [1]
Website http://rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca/RHPL/

The Richmond Hill Public Library is the organisation that runs public libraries in the town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

History

The Richmond Hill Library Association formed in 1852 under the provisions of the previous year's provincial An Act respecting Library Associations and Mechanics Institutes.[2] The Library Association merged itself with the local Mechanics Institute in 1858. In 1870, the two organizations split over a disagreement about the user fees, which the Library Association did not support but the Mechanics Institute did.

By the end of the 19th century, it was transformed to an organization that did not require membership fee. The New Richmond Hill District Public Library, with a collection of 5,000 books, was established in the new Masonic Hall on Yonge Street.

Branches

Branch Location Size
Richmond Hill Central 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2)
Oak Ridges Moraine 13085 Yonge Street, Unit 12, Richmond Hill 6,000 square feet (560 m2)
Richmond Green 1 William F Bell Parkway, Richmond Hill 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2)
Richvale 40 Pearson Avenue, Richmond Hill 8,000 square feet (740 m2)

The Central Library opened in 1993. It was designed by A.J. Diamond, Donald Schmitt and Company, and won an Award of Merit in the 1994 the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.[3] The building consists of four storeys: on the first is the circulation desk, children's department, and music and video materials; on the second are meeting rooms; on the third are reference materials, magazines, newspapers, and general stacks; and on the fourth library administration and local history archives.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Library, opened in 1990 in a strip mall, was designed by Phillip Carter. It replaced the Charles Connor Memorial Library located on King Road. It will be replaced by a new building on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Regatta Avenue in late 2018.

The Richmond Green Library is located in Richmond Green Park, adjacent to the Richmond Green Secondary School, for which it is also the school library.

The Richvale Library was also designed by Philip Carter and opened in 1983 in the Richvale neighbourhood of Richmond Hill north of Highway 7 and west of Yonge Street.

Membership

Library cards are issued without charge to individuals who live, work, study or pay land taxes in the town of Richmond Hill, or in the communities within the York Public Libraries Network (YPLN), which includes Aurora, Markham, Newmarket, and Vaughan. Replacement cards are issued at the cost of $2. If the card is damaged or worn out, the card will be replaced for free. To obtain an adult library card, a valid piece of I.D. with name and current address is required. However, RHPL does accept student card and Transit I.D. for students aged 13 to 17. Memberships expire annually. However, members are required to verify their information and pay any outstanding fees.[4]

Services

  • Wi-Fi Access [5]
  • Computer Access (Linux terminals with web browser, OpenOffice and other applications)
  • Ask a Librarian (online reference)
  • Bestseller Book Express
  • Business Resources
  • Community Information
  • Job/Career Resources
  • Visiting Library Service (for Shut-in clientèles)
  • Local History/Genealogy
  • Children's & Adult Programs
  • Meeting Room Rentals
  • Exhibits
  • e-book resources [6]
  • York Region Transit and Viva ticket agent [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Canadian Library Statistics: Public Library Statistics - 2012
  2. ↑ Robert M. Stamp (1991). "Appendix F. Community Organizations". Early Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  3. ↑ "Governor General's Medals in Architecture — Past Recipients". Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
  4. ↑ "Library Cards & Memberships".
  5. ↑ "Free WiFi Access Service at the Central Library". Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  6. ↑ E-Resources for E-Books
  7. ↑ Ticket agents in Richmond Hill

Coordinates: 43°52′13″N 79°26′19″W / 43.870178°N 79.438749°W / 43.870178; -79.438749

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