Markham Public Library (MPL) is a
library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vi ...
system operated by the municipal government of the City of
Markham in Canada. There are eight branches in the city, serving about 250,000 residents in Markham.
[ The libraries are managed by the Administration Centre, located at 6031 Highway 7.
In 2008, the system was renamed to the singular Markham Public Library to reflect its status as one unified system. Its current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Catherine Biss.
]
History
While the current library system dates back to the 1970s, there was the subscription based system popular in 19th Century Ontario, the Mechanics’ Institute, operated out of the Old Town Hall on Main Street.
Branches
The Markham Public Library has 8 branches.
The Markham Public Library branches are:
* Aaniin Library
* Angus Glen Library
* Cornell Library
* Markham Village Library
* Milliken Mills Library
* Thornhill Community Library
* Thornhill Village Library
* Unionville Library
Customer-Centred Classification
The Markham Village branch was the first to develop its own library classification
A library classification is a system of organization of knowledge by which library resources are arranged and ordered systematically. Library classifications are a notational system that represents the order of topics in the classification and al ...
system called the ''Customer Centred Classification'' (C3). Compared to the Dewey Decimal Classification
The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), colloquially known as the Dewey Decimal System, is a proprietary library classification system which allows new books to be added to a library in their appropriate location based on subject.
Section 4.1 ...
(DDC) or Library of Congress Classification The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is a system of library classification developed by the Library of Congress in the United States, which can be used for shelving books in a library. LCC is mainly used by large research and academic librar ...
(LCC), C3 is more modern and is supposed to be easier for library patrons to find books at the book stacks. All branches utilize the C3 cataloguing system for their non-fiction collection. The Thornhill Village branch started the migration to C3 in 2009, and C3 is used by the Thornhill Community Centre branch when it re-opened in 2011.
Membership
People who work, live, or attend a school in York Region may apply for a free membership. Otherwise, a $60.00 annual membership fee will apply.
Services
Like many other libraries across Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
, the Markham Public Library system allows members to check out books and other physical and online media. Members can:
* Place up to 75 holds per one membership account;
* Check out 100 physical items per one membership account;
* Use TeleCirc Telephone Library Service;
* Use the Interlibrary loan service;
* Access free online courses
Borrowing privileges
Other services
Other than borrowing books and media, the following services are available:
* Free WiFi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wa ...
Internet
*Library Catalogue
A library catalog (or library catalogue in British English) is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations. A catalog for a group of libraries is also ...
access
*One hour internet
The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a ''internetworking, network of networks'' that consists ...
access per day per membership account (additional time can be requested - guest logins are available for those without a library card)
* One hour of Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office, or simply Office, is the former name of a family of client software, server software, and services developed by Microsoft. It was first announced by Bill Gates on August 1, 1988, at COMDEX in Las Vegas. Initially a ma ...
or OpenOffice OpenOffice or open office may refer to:
Computing Software
* OpenOffice.org (OOo), a discontinued open-source office software suite, originally based on StarOffice
* Apache OpenOffice (AOO), a derivative of OOo by the Apache Software Foundation, ...
(depending on the branch) per day per membership account
*Regular programs for preschool, children, teen, and adults
*Time specific programs, eg. PA Days, Winter Breaks, March Breaks, and Summer Holidays
*Meeting rooms for rent
* Study rooms of various occupancy (inquire at specific branch for availability and bookings)
* Photocopying, printing, scanning
* Maker Space at Aaniin branch with 3D printer
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...
s and laser cutter
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fi ...
, virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), e ...
, and equipment for robotics
Robotics is an interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist human ...
, circuitry
An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. It is a type of electrica ...
and coding
*Kids Makerspace at Connell branch has toys and digital tools that are geared toward STEAM
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizat ...
* Digital Media Lab for graphic designs, making and editing video
Video is an Electronics, electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving picture, moving image, visual Media (communication), media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, whi ...
s, music
Music is generally defined as the The arts, art of arranging sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Exact definition of music, definitions of mu ...
and podcast
A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...
s, etc
See also
Public libraries in Ontario
City of Markham
References
External links
*
Markham Public Libraries' photostream
on Flickr
Flickr ( ; ) is an American image hosting and video hosting service, as well as an online community, founded in Canada and headquartered in the United States. It was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and was a popular way for amateur and professiona ...
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Public libraries in Ontario
Buildings and structures in Markham, Ontario
Education in Markham, Ontario