February 19, 2008
Kitchener Public Library Announces Critically Acclaimed Author, Trevor Cole, as 2008 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence

The Kitchener Public Library is excited to announce that two-time Governor General’s Literary Award nominee, Trevor Cole, will be the library’s 13th Writer-in-Residence.  

Trevor Cole was recently called "one of the best young novelists in Canada" by The Globe and Mail. He has worked everywhere from a factory floor to the boardroom of a national newspaper. Since 1982 he's made his living from words, first as a radio copywriter, typing out 30-second spots for bun shops, furriers and Nissan dealerships; then as a magazine editor; then as an award-winning journalist. Aside from an eight-month detour as the Globe and Mail's travel editor, he spent 15 years in the newspaper's magazine division, culminating in a successful three-year stint as a senior writer at Report on Business Magazine. Upon leaving the Globe in 2001 he wrote a satirical column for Canadian Business, which for two years existed as a notorious irritant to many of Canada's most prominent business leaders.

While still a journalist writing feature stories for Toronto Life, Report on Business Magazine and other publications and receiving numerous awards for his articles, Cole has for the last several years devoted a great part of his energies to fiction. His first novel, Norman Bray in the Performance of His Life, published in 2004, garnered enormous acclaim, appeared on the Maclean's bestseller list, was adapted for radio and audio book, and was nominated for a Governor General's Literary award and several others. His second novel, The Fearsome Particles, published in September 2006, won for Cole his second Governor General's award nomination.

For more information about Trevor Cole, please visit his website at: www.trevorcole.com

About Trevor Cole’s Residency
Trevor Cole’s residency at KPL will run from April 28 to June 23.  During his residency, Trevor will be hosting a series of free Writer's Craft Workshops plus he will be accepting manuscripts from aspiring authors for appraisal.  Manuscript submissions will be accepted beginning Saturday, March 15th
The Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring writers to learn more about the craft of writing plus receive constructive criticism of their work from an established author.

Writer's Craft Workshops with Trevor Cole
Trevor Cole’s Writer’s Craft Workshops will take place from March 26th to June 23rd.  For workshop details, please visit the library’s website or pick up a copy of the spring issue of the library’s magazine In Touch, available now at all library locations.

Meet Trevor Cole
A special welcome reception for Trevor Cole will take place at the Main Library on Monday, April 28th at 6:30 pm.  Everyone is welcome to attend this event.  Please RSVP your attendance by calling 519-743-0271 ext. 254 or emailing sheila.bauman@kpl.org

Individuals who are interested in submitting a manuscript for appraisal may do so beginning March 15th.  Space is limited and appraisals are booked on a first come, first served basis.  Aspiring authors are encouraged to submit their entries early.  Please check the library’s website www.kpl.org for manuscript submission guidelines.

About the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence Program
The Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program was established in 1996. The Program was endowed with a generous donation of one hundred thousand dollars from the late Edna Staebler, locally acclaimed author and life-long library advocate.  Ms Staebler’s desire has been to provide writers with the information and encouragement necessary to “keep at it” and succeed in a challenging profession.
In the past, KPL has been honoured to have a long list of exceptional Canadian authors serve as our Writer-in-Residence, including: Janet Lund  (1996), Veronica Ross (1997), Jack Batten (1998), Betty Jane Wylie (1999), Welwyn Wilton Katz (2000), John B. Lee (2001), Kathy Stinson (2002), Andrew Pyper (2003), Lyn Hamilton (2004), Wayson Choy (2005), Robert J. Sawyer (2006), and Elizabeth Ruth (2007).

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February 12, 2008
Have you heard?  Downloadable audiobooks are @ your library!

Listen to a good book today!

More than 1300 downloadable audiobooks are now available to library customers, free of charge, thanks to the collaboration of area libraries including Cambridge, Kitchener, Perth County Information Network, the Region of Waterloo and Waterloo.  Together these libraries have purchased downloadable audiobooks that can be found on a shared website called Download Library. 

At www.downloadlibrary.ca you can browse a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction titles.   Select the book you want to hear and download it to your personal computer.  You can listen to titles on your PC, or transfer to supported devices (MP3 players).  To use the service you will need a valid library card, a Personal Identification Number or PIN (if your library requires it) and the Internet.  Quick Start instructions will get you on your way.  And if you have slow or no Internet access at home, the same great titles are available in the libraries at special download stations.   An easy-to-use wizard helps you through the steps in the process.

Downloadable audiobooks automatically expire when they reach their due date which means there are never overdue fines.  You can check out up to ten titles at a time, each for a period of two weeks.   With adaptors available for car stereos, you can plug in an MP3 player and listen when you’re on the road.  I-pods and Macs do not currently support this technology which depends on digital rights management (drm) to protect copyrighted material.

The five library systems have teamed up to pool their resources and offer more titles together than would have been possible for each library on its own.  The variety of available titles is impressive, from all the best in fiction to biographies, self-help, business and language learning.  There’s a great selection of audiobooks for everyone:  adults, teens and children.  It’s all @ your library.  Anytime, anywhere

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January 28, 2008
Kitchener Public Library Manager Named Librarian of the Year

Kitchener Public Library is proud to claim one of its own as the Province’s top librarian.  Sharron Smith, Manager of Readers’ Advisory Services was recently selected by the Ontario Library Association for the prestigious W.J. Robertson Medallion.  Named in honour of one of the Library Association’s founding members, and more commonly known in the profession as “The Librarian of the Year”, the award formally recognizes the one individual in the profession who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of public library service in Ontario.

One look at Smith’s contributions to librarianship and you won’t wonder why she received the award, but rather why it took so long.

Sharron Smith has worked at Kitchener Public Library since 1990 and is currently the Manager of Readers’ Advisory Service, a position she has championed for the past decade.  It is Sharron’s passion for reading – and helping others find the perfect great read – that has drawn the attention of librarians not only across the Province, but across the continent.  Sharron is a much sought after speaker and trainer on the complex subject of readers’ advisory and has spoken at library conferences in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and in the United States.  Sharron is the founding Chair of the Ontario Library Association’s Readers’ Advisory Committee and serves as a member of the same committee for the American Library Association. 

Sharing what you know is the hallmark of a true professional.  Sharron teaches the art of readers’ advisory to aspiring librarians at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Information and Media Studies; and in 2005, she co-authored Canadian Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests, a reference book now used by librarians across the country. 

Locally, avid readers will know Sharron from her popular Saturday morning library book club and from her regular book-talk appearances on local radio and television programs.  Sharron is also a founding member of our Region’s “One Book One Community” Advisory Committee and a key organizer for the popular annual book festival “Word on the Street”.

“Sharron Smith’s name is synonymous with readers’ advisory” says Sonia Lewis, Kitchener Public Library’s CEO.  “She has been a true leader in this field, inspiring countless librarians with her knowledge and passion for the fine art of matching readers with good books.  When it comes to readers’ advisory, she is the best.”

And it’s because she’s the best that Sharron is to be honoured by her colleagues this year.  Sharron Smith will officially receive her Librarian of the Year award on January 31st at the annual Public Library Awards dinner, held in conjunction with the Ontario Public Library Association’s Annual Super Conference.

Congratulations Sharron, from the Kitchener Public Library Board, management, staff, and friends.

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January 22, 2008
Kitchener Public Library Board Elects New Officers for 2008

At its inaugural meeting of Wednesday, January 16, 2008, the Kitchener Public Library Board elected new officers for 2008.

The newly elected officers are:

Mr. Dan Carli - Chair
Mr. Mike Farwell - 1st Vice-Chair and Facilities Planning & Building Committee Chair
Ms. Beth Esenbergs - 2nd Vice-Chair and Public Service & Policy CommitteeChair
Ms. Lynn Gazzola - Finance Committee Chair

Other Board members include:

Mr. Brian Burnley
Mr. Leszek Jankowski
Mr. Bruce MacNeil
Ms. Sue Morgan
Mr. Peter Sweeney
Councillor Kelly Galloway
Councillor Berry Vrbanovic

The Kitchener Public Library is governed by a Board composed of members of the community appointed by the City to serve for a four-year term. The composition and responsibilities of the Board are established by Provincial legislation.

Click here for additional information about the Kitchener Public Library Board.

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December 5th, 2007
Kitchener Public Library to Offer Free Library Cards Region-Wide

The Kitchener Public Library is excited to announce that full reciprocal borrowing privileges will be extended to all residents of the Region of Waterloo effective January 1, 2008.   This expanded reciprocal borrowing arrangement includes residents from the cities of Cambridge and Waterloo, and residents of the Regional townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries.

Since the library began offering limited reciprocal Region-wide borrowing in 2006, nearly 7,000 Regional residents have taken advantage of free KPL membership.

Under the library’s new policy, all borrowing and hold restrictions will be lifted for reciprocal card holders, including the use of the library’s vast collection of online databases and downloadable audio books – many of which are available 24/7 from a
library card holders’ home or office computer.

This expanded service is intended to complement the public library services already offered by the Region of Waterloo, Cambridge and Waterloo.  Kitchener residents enjoy the same privileges at libraries in those communities

 “Accessibility and partnership are key components of our long-term vision”, says Kitchener Public Library CEO Sonia Lewis.  “We want to do our part to ensure there are no barriers to anyone using the public library; and establish partnerships that extend the services and programs of KPL to as wide an audience as possible.  Expanding our reciprocal borrowing agreements helps us to do just that”.

Getting your free Kitchener Public Library card is easy; just visit any KPL location and present one piece of personal identification along with proof of a current address in Waterloo Region.  Identification can include a valid driver’s license, a health services card, birth certificate or passport.  If you are a new resident and/or do not yet have identification with an address within the Region, call any KPL branch to find out what you need to obtain your KPL card.

The Board and staff of Kitchener Public Library invites everyone throughout Waterloo Region to enjoy all that KPL has to offer. 

Click this link for more information about getting a Kitchener Public Library Card

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November 7, 2007
2007 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest
Winners Announced

The winners of the 2007 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest for Poetry and Prose have been chosen.  Winners will be presented with their awards on Sunday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the Main branch of the Kitchener Public Library.  Twenty-five poets and short-story writers will be recognized at this special presentation and receive prizes totaling $2,000.00 in this, the 40th year of the Awards.

Winners were selected from hundreds of entries in three age categories: Junior (12 and under), Intermediate (13-17), and Senior (18 and older).  The contest was conducted in cooperation with numerous school boards, and public and regional library systems throughout southern Ontario, all of which actively promoted the Awards Contest.

The 2007 Winners:

Poetry

Junior

First                Silence                                        Star Xu (Waterloo)
Second          Get Real!                                    Ana-Maria Nica (Kitchener)
Third               Under the Ocean                             Nazifa Tanzim (Guelph)
Honourable Mention:  Alone                 Julia Grace Dickson (Cambridge)
           

Intermediate

First            Albert Camus Invited Me Bowling    Josh Matthews (Kitchener)
Second     Timothy B-185 Ate Far Too Much    Christopher Hilbrecht (Cambridge)
Third        The Homework Duet         Robin Frances Hilbrecht  (Cambridge)
Honourable Mention:  Super Nova                     Hadleigh Neabel (Listowel)
                       

Senior

First            The Names of Jars                      John Soules (Wingham)           
Second      The Unwritten Poem in Progress       Hilary Elizabeth Gillespie (Wingham)
Third          After the Battle                        Sandra Sutherland  (Cambridge)
Honourable Mention:   Behind the Lens               Evelyn Dekker (Kitchener)
Honourable Mention:  Omission             Jeffrey Paul Dickson (Cambridge)

Prose

Junior

First     How Dolphins Came to Be: A Fable   Katharine Hoffman (Maryhill)
Second     Lonely . . . No Longer   Danielle Anne-Marie Elgie (Kitchener)
Third         The Button Traveller                         Jessica Lam (Cambridge)
Honourable Mention:  Lucky Thirteen          Lindsay Mewhiney (Heidelberg)

Intermediate

First                Il Postino                                      Josh Matthews (Kitchener)
Second          Highwayman                                  Julien Jefferson (Waterloo)
Third               The Dawn of War                     Leo Linyuan Sheng (Waterloo)
Honourable Mention:  The Angel Without a Voice              Meghan Regier (Kitchener)
                       

Senior           

First                A Summer Call                                        D.A. Stark (Ariss)
Second          Dixie                                             Jennifer Booth (Cambridge)
Third               In the Female Line                           Bess Hamilton (London)
Honourable Mention:  Magpie                               Bonnie Dawson (Guelph

November 1, 2007
CBC Radio and Local Celebrities Featured in a Dramatic Reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

On Friday, November 30th, 2007, CBC Radio, the Kitchener Public Library Foundation and the St. George’s of Forest Hill Anglican Church will host a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The reading begins at
7:30 pm at St. George’s of Forest Hill Anglican Church, 321 Fischer-Hallman Rd., Kitchener.  A reception will follow the performance.

Tickets are $15 each and are available beginning November 1st at the church and at all Kitchener Public Library locations.   Proceeds from the event will benefit the Kitchener Public Library Foundation and St. George’s Outreach Ministries.

CBC Radio’s Judy Maddren is one of the featured readers for the evenings' performance.  Other readers include Donald Davidson(Rector, St. George’s Anglican Church), Alan Sapp (Lost & Found Theater), Thomas Gertz (Baritone with the Canadian  Opera Company), and Kimberly Barber (Canadian Mezzo Soprano).

Music for the evening will be provided by the choir of St. George’s of Forest Hill Anglican Church.

First produced in 1990 as a single reading by CBC Radio's Judy Maddren, the Carol has become a Christmas tradition for thousands of Canadian families. Once again this year there are more than 100 readings across the country, each raising money for local charities.  "What a wonderful project this is for CBC Radio and all involved", proclaims Jane Chalmers, Vice-President, CBC Radio.  "We want to thank all the organizers and their teams who continue to carry the dream that Judy Maddren has nurtured for such a long time".

October 24, 2007
NOTICE: SPECIAL LIBRARY CLOSURE

All locations of the Kitchener Public Library will be closed for one day on Wednesday October 31, 2007 for its annual staff development day.  Library staff will be working and learning to serve you better!

This noticed effects all Kitchener Public Library locations:

Main Library                                              85 Queen Street North
Country Hills Library                                 1500 Block Line Road
Forest Heights Library                              251 Fischer-Hallman Road
Grand River Stanley Park Library           175 Indian Road
Pioneer Park Library                                 150 Pioneer Drive

Normal library hours will resume at all KPL locations on Thursday November 1, 2007.    The library apologizes for any inconvenience this closure may cause.

               
October 3, 2007
Automotive Consumer Expert Phil Edmonston returns to Kitchener Public Library

Lemon-Aid author Phil Edmonston will be speaking at the Kitchener Public Library – Main Library Auditorium -- on Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 pm.

*FREE tickets are now available at the Main Library on 85 Queen Street North in Kitchener*
Phil is a popular speaker so get your tickets early.

Founder of the Automobile Protection Association and a former Member of Parliament, Phil will share his insights and answer your questions about what makes a safe, reliable and fuel-frugal vehicle.

Canada’s toughest automotive customer will cover such topics as:

* Don't be spooked by high fuel costs. Keep your present car, or buy used and put over $20,000 in your pocket, right now.
* There is an art to complaining. The pen IS mightier than the sword. There have been lots of consumer victories.
* Use 'secret warranties' to get refunds on engines, transmissions, brakes, and body/paint glitches. Pssst! Don't tell anyone…
* Which are the best and worst 1970-2007 buys. Chrysler's sale to Cerberus: a "dead van, walking?"
Phil will also devote time to taking questions from the audience.

February 22, 2007
Kitchener Public Library Board Elects New Executive

At its regular meeting held on Wednesday, February 21st, the Kitchener Public Library Board elected its Executive for 2007.

The four member Executive is composed of:

Mr. Dan Carli -- Chair

Mr. Bruce MacNeil -- 1st Vice-Chair and Facilities Planning & Building Committee Chair

Ms. Beth Esenbergs -- 2nd Vice-Chair & Public Service and Policy Committee Chair

Ms. Lynn Gazzola -- Finance Committee Chair

Other Library Board Members Include:

Councillor Kelly Galloway
Councillor Berry Vrbanovic
Mr. Brian Burnley
Mr. Mike Farwell
Mr. Leszek Jankowski
Ms. Sue Morgan
Mr. Peter Sweeney.

Kitchener Public Library Board members are appointed by City Council as representatives of Kitchener taxpayers. The Board meets monthly, except July.

Visit click here for a detailed list of library board members, including 2007 meeting schedule, and past Board minutes.

February 14, 2007
Kitchener Public Library Announces Critically Acclaimed Author, Elizabeth Ruth, as 2007 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence

The Kitchener Public Library is excited to announce that Toronto author and writing teacher, Elizabeth Ruth, will be the library’s 11th Writer-in-Residence.

Elizabeth Ruth’s debut novel, Ten Good Seconds of Silence, was named a finalist for the Rogers’ Writers Trust of Canada Fiction Prize, the Amazon.ca Best First Novel Award, and the City of Toronto Book Award. It has also been sold internationally. Her second book, Smoke, was published to great critical acclaim and selected as one of the best books of the year by Toronto’s NOW magazine, The London Free Press, and The Vancouver Sun. Smoke, was subsequently sold to Random House in Germany for a 2007 publication release.

Elizabeth Ruth’s short fiction has also been widely published in both literary journals and anthologies, and she frequently writes book reviews and conducts author interviews for various newspapers.

Besides writing fiction, Elizabeth Ruth conducts private writing workshops and formally teaches writing at the University of Toronto and at The Humber School for Writers. She was an editor with the Fireweed Quarterly from 1999-2002, and the founder and curator of Canada's only monthly queer literary series between 1998 and 2002. Over 400 writers read at her series, and from the most memorable pieces, Elizabeth compiled and edited the anthology, Bent On Writing: Contemporary Queer Tales, published by Canadian Scholars’ Press/Women’s Press in 2002.

Elizabeth Ruth currently lives and works in Toronto.

For more information about Elizabeth Ruth, please visit her website at www.elizabethruth.com

About Elizabeth Ruth’s Residency

Elizabeth Ruth’s residency at KPL will run from April 30 to June 21. During her residency, Elizabeth will be hosting a series of free Writer's Craft Workshops plus she will be accepting manuscripts from aspiring authors for appraisal. Manuscript submissions will be accepted beginning Monday, March 26th
The Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring writers to learn more about the craft of writing plus receive constructive criticism of their work from an established author.

Writer's Craft Workshops with Elizabeth Ruth

Elizabeth Ruth’s Writer’s Craft Workshops will take place throughout the month of June. For workshop details, please visit the library’s website or pick up a copy of the spring issue of the library’s magazine In Touch, available at all library locations in mid-February.

Meet Elizabeth Ruth

A special welcome reception for Elizabeth Ruth will take place at the Main Library on Monday, April 30th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this event. Individuals who are interested in submitting a manuscript for appraisal may do so beginning March 26th. Space is limited and appraisals are booked on a first come, first served basis; so aspiring authors are encouraged to submit their entries early. Please check the library’s website www.kpl.org for manuscript submission guidelines.

About the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence Program

The Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program was established in 1996. The Program was endowed with a generous donation of one hundred thousand dollars from the late Edna Staebler, locally acclaimed author and life-long library advocate. Ms Staebler’s desire has been to provide writers with the information and encouragement necessary to “keep at it” and succeed in a challenging profession.
In the past, KPL has been honoured to have a long list of exceptional Canadian authors serve as our Writer-in-Residence, including: Veronica Ross (1997), Jack Batten (1998), Betty Jane Wylie (1999), Welwyn Wilton Katz (2000), John B. Lee (2001), Kathy Stinson (2002), Andrew Pyper (2003), Lyn Hamilton (2004), Wayson Choy (2005) and Robert J. Sawyer (2006).

November 6, 2006
Digital Audio Books Now Available at Kitchener Public Library!

In our ongoing efforts to use the power of the Internet to enhance the library experience, KPL is proud to offer yet another electronic service -- digital audio books. Digital audio books are electronic versions of books that KPL card holders can download and enjoy on their own PC, PDA or MP3 player. This is a fantastic new service that only a few libraries in Canada are currently offering. The best thing about our new digital book collection is that they can be accessed anytime, from anywhere in the world. Readers now have yet another way to enjoy their library 24/7 from the comfort and convenience of their home or office.

Our new online collection is sure to have something for everyone. From popular adult fiction and non-fiction, to teen and children’s titles - our digital library spans nearly every genre. Even popular biographies and self-improvement guides are available for downloading!

Getting started is easy! Visit our special digital audio book collection website, kpl.lib.overdrive.com; install the free media software; browse the collection, and select titles to add to your cart. Check out is also simple. Just enter a valid KPL card number and your PIN, then download the digital media to your personal computer. When the download process is complete, you can enjoy titles on your PC or transfer to any compatible WMA/MP3 or WMV player. Many titles can even be burned to CD to listen in the car or on any standard CD player.

For your added convenience, each location of Kitchener Public Library will have special downloading workstations so that you can also download your digital media whenever you visit the library.

Digital downloads are easy to check out and download, and the best part is - there are never any late fees because your titles are automatically “returned” at the end of the two-week lending period.

We think library customers will be excited about this unique and versatile digital collection. For more information about our digital audio book collection, please contact our friendly Info Link Reference staff 519-743-7502.

October 19, 2006
Kitchener Public Library Participates in “Telling Our Stories” -- A Province-wide Contest about the Magic of Public Libraries

Telling Our Stories is a province-wide contest that highlights and celebrates the positive impact of Ontario public libraries. Beginning Ontario Public Library Week, from October 16, 2006, until November 30, 2006, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) invites Ontarians to share their personal stories of how a public library has made a difference to them or their families.

The top three winning stories in both English and French will be awarded cash prizes (First prize $1,500; Second prize $1,000; Third prize $500) and will be featured in the media. In addition, a donation of $250 will be made in the name of the top three winners in both official languages and the top 10 combined English and French runners-up to the Ontario public library named in their entry forms.

Entries that meet contest criteria will be short-listed and then reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges. Stories will be entered into a searchable online database that is accessible through the contest website at tvo.org/tellingourstories and the public will be invited to vote online for their favourite entries. Short-listed stories will be published in a booklet to become part of a province-wide advocacy kit for use by public libraries at the local level.

Telling Our Stories is open to Ontario residents aged 18 or older. Stories must be no longer than 500 words in length and may be submitted online by visiting the Kitchener Public Library website www.kpl.org from October 16 until November 30, 2006 at midnight. Entries may also be submitted by fax or regular mail. Entry forms are available at all Kitchener Public Library locations. The winners will be announced at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto on January 31, 2007.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Will Visit KPL to Help Promote the Telling Our Stories Contest

On Saturday, October 28 at 2:00 pm, the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Honorary Patron of the 2006 ‘Telling Our Stories’ Contest will visit the Main Branch of the Kitchener Public Library on 85 Queen Street to talk briefly about the contest and encourage Kitchener residents to participate. The public is cordially invited to attend.

Libraries in my Life: A Personal Story
by the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Honorary Patron of the 2006 ‘Telling Our Stories’ Contest

Books were my ticket out of a life of poverty and manual labour. As a boy, I accompanied my father on frequent visits to the Port Carling Public Library. Itwas an excellent and well-stocked village library, and I always carried home armfuls of books. My father called himself a graduate of Frontier College and was an avid reader who loved to recount stories he had read. He had a special interest in aboriginal history so books stimulated story-telling in our family. I also read virtually every book in our school library. Looking back, I know that this early access to books and libraries widened my horizons and set me on the road to a good education and a fulfilling career. I have enjoyed introducing my own children to special books and, as Lieutenant Governor, I have launched several literacy initiatives for aboriginal children in Ontario’s North. Today, I am still a voracious and wide-ranging reader, and I continue to rely upon, and be grateful for, the excellent services of Ontario’s public libraries.

For more information about the Telling Our Stories Contest and complete contest rules please contact Kitchener Public Library or visit www.kpl.org.

October 17, 2006

2006 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest Winners Announced

The winners of the 2006 Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards Contest for Poetry and Prose have been chosen. Winners will be presented with their awards on Sunday, November 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the Main branch of the Kitchener Public Library. Twenty-eight poets and short-story writers will be recognized at this special presentation and receive prizes totaling $2,000.00 in this, the 39th year of the Awards.

Winners were selected from hundreds of entries in three age categories: Junior (12 and under), Intermediate (13-17), and Senior (18 and older). The contest was conducted in cooperation with numerous school boards, and public and regional library systems throughout southern Ontario, all of which actively promoted the Awards Contest.

The 2006 Winners:

Junior Poetry

First Sadness by Kira Bender (Cambridge)

Second But We Sit Still by Kody Szymanski (Kitchener)
Third Love is like a kiss... by Damhnait Malone (Kitchener)
Honorable Mention Tree Alexandra by Mae Jones (Zurich)
Honorable Mention Flying by Naomi Wiersma (Kitchener)

Intermediate Poetry

First Strawberries byAnya Lomako (Waterloo)

Second Spaces in Between Laura Cok (Waterloo)
Third Jeanette by Anna James (Markdale)
Honorable Mention Perfect by Sarah Moroz (Kitchener)
Honorable Mention A Cent byTiffany Martindale (Kitchener)

Senior Poetry

First Between Keats and Shelly by Bruce Herchenrader (Waterloo)

Second Naftel's Creek by Steven Erik Lindstrom (Goderich)
Third The River Justin Burnett (Cambridge)
Honorable Mention After the Fall Judith Millar (Kitchener)
Honorable Mention Release From Her Skin by Rebecca Stuebing (Kitchener)

Junior Prose

First Return the Favour by Alexandra Mae Jones (Zurich)

Second The Golden Scale by Kristina Parker (Conestogo)
Third The New World by Catey McKay ( Elora)

Intermediate Prose

First Sea Glass by Laura Cok (Waterloo)

Second The Assignment by Clayton Hoffman (Maryhill)
Third Snow Day by Nathan Carroll (Simcoe)

Senior Prose

First The Ground People by Teresa Brown (Baden)

Second A Bedtime Story by Bessie Hamilton (London)
Third Where Lilac Grows by June Frost (Tiverton)

Join us for our Annual Awards Ceremony!

Celebrate the accomplishments of this year's winners. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of junior, intermediate, and senior for both poetry and prose. Poems and excerpts of prose will be read by the finalists as part of the ceremony.

Sunday, November 26 at 2:00 pm
Main Library

With Judges: Melanie Cameron, poetry -- Cathy Vasas-Brown, prose

Copies of the commemorative booklet The Changing Image will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

About The Judges:

The poetry submissions were appraised by poet Melanie Cameron. The prose entries were assessed by author Cathy Vasas-Brown.

Melanie Cameron -- Poetry Judge

Melanie was born in Kitchener-Waterloo in 1971 and has lived half her life here, and half on the prairie. Melanie has also lived briefly in Toronto, California, North Carolina, and as travelled and worked in Latin America.
Melanie Cameron is the author of two books of poetry: Holding the Dark (1999; finalist for the Eileen MacTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book by a Manitoba Writer), and Wake (2003; finalist for the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award). Reviewers of Melanie's work have commented that it "is a sustained celebration of the way love dissolves borders, between joy and pain, between our lives, our dreams, and everything that goes on around us".

During her most recent years in Winnipeg, Melanie taught writing (Creative, Technical, and Academic) at Winnipeg's two universities, and worked as a Manitoba Artist in the Schools. She was a two-time finalist for the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer, and was Poetry Co-Editor of Prairie Fire magazine for five years.
Melanie is currently at work on a third collection of poems, as well as projects in other genres.

Cathy Vasas-Brown -- Prose Judge

Cathy Vasas-Brown was born in Welland, Ontario, in 1954 and graduated from McMaster University. Cathy taught elementary school for several years, and in 2001, her first novel, Every Wickedness was published by Doubleday. It was nominated for an Arthur Ellis Award for best first crime novel and had people who take blood thinners very worried. Cathy’s second suspense novel, Some Reason in Madness was released in 2004. Both books have also been published in Germany, and Some Reason in Madness has just been sold in Italy.

Critics have claimed that Cathy “writes like a more literate Mary Higgins Clark” and that she “writes a slick, straightforward tale” with a “sinuous plot as her stories gallop to a climax.”

Though Cathy has been described as a writer who shows a talent for “great gore,” she has a very soft spot for animals (and likes people too). Cathy has completed two more novels and looks forward to frightening readers very soon.

About the Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards

The Awards began in 1967 as a Centennial project of the Kitchener Public Library and are named for Miss Dorothy Shoemaker, the former Chief Librarian, who was an ardent supporter of aspiring writers throughout her career. During the 1980s, the contest was administered by the Southern Ontario Library Service and the area of participation grew to include much of South-Western Ontario. In 1996, when government cutbacks threatened he continuation of the Awards, Miss Shoemaker generously endowed the contest which she began and which was subsequently named in her honour through the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.

Sadly, Miss Shoemaker died on October 5, 2000 at the age of 94. Her presence will be sorely missed, but the inspiration and encouragement she gave writers over the past 38 years continues through this Literary Contest.

May 26, 2006
KPL Now Makes Reserving a Computer Easier

In a continuing effort to maximize access to our limited, but popular computer workstations, KPL has now introduced online computer reservation.

Until now, customers needed to be in the library to reserve a computer. Now, customers can reserve a library computer from the convenience of their home or office 24/7. Customers reserving a computer can quickly see what computers are available, during what time periods and at what locations. Customers can even reserve a specific computer if they like.

All KPL card holders have 2 hours of computer time per day assigned to their cards. Once a customer logs on to a KPL computer, our system records their card information and tracks the amount of computer time used. Once the allotted time has expired, the computer will automatically shut down (after a one minute warning). It should be noted that the only information our system collects is a customers’ library card barcode number and the amount of computer time they have used. No information is collected with regard to the Internet sites a customer has visited.

For people who do not currently have a KPL card, but live in the City of Kitchener, we them to register for their FREE library card without delay. For those individuals not eligible for a free Kitchener Public Library card, special use cards are available free of charge. These special use cards will only permit access to our computers and will not be valid for borrowing materials.

If you have any questions or concerns our new computer reservation service, or suggestions on how we can improve computer access at KPL, please use our online Comments Form, located on our library catalogue or contact:

March 1, 2006
Kitchener Public Library Offers Access to Powerful New Database - PowerSearch

Kitchener Public Library’s impressive collection of online products just got better – about 40 million times better!

Library users now have access to Thomson Gale’s revolutionary electronic database, PowerSearch. This remarkable product allows users to search across the entire suite of popular InfoTrac databases, including over 300 electronic encyclopedias, all with one single search.

With approximately 40 million available documents, PowerSearch not only rivals Internet searching in volume, but boasts far superior information integrity and accuracy.

Once you find the documents you need, PowerSearch can even translate your results into one of eight different languages, including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Now that is powerful!

PowerSearch is available for use by anyone at a Kitchener Public Library location. If you have a KPL library card, you can also search this powerful reference tool from the comfort and convenience of your home or office computer 24/7. If you don’t already have a Kitchener Public Library card, now is the time to become a member.

To check out PowerSearch online, visit www.kpl.org and select Your Library Online and then click Use Encyclopedias and Databases.

January 24, 2006

Kitchener Public Library Board Elects New Executive

At its regular meeting held January 18, 2006, the Kitchener Public Library Board elected its Executive for 2006.

The four member Executive is composed of:

Mr. Bruce MacNeil, Chair
Mr. Dan Carli, 1st Vice-Chair and Facilities Planning & Building Committee Chair
Mr. Brian Burnley, 2nd Vice-Chair & Public Service and Policy Committee Chair
Ms. Elizabeth Esenbergs, Finance Committee Chair

The Chair of the Library Board, Mr. Bruce MacNeil, now in his fifteenth year with the Board, acknowledged the Library Board’s accomplishments in 2005. The highlights included the new Central Library project, the fundraising component, a new strategic plan and the introduction of reciprocal borrowing. The Board will continue to focus in 2006 on these initiatives.

Kitchener Public Library Board members are appointed by City Council as representatives of Kitchener taxpayers. Current members are serving the third year of a three year appointment. The Board meets monthly, except July and August. Visit our website at www.kpl.org for a detailed list of library board members, including 2006 meeting schedule, and past Board minutes.

October 12, 2005

Medical Complications Forces Cancellation of KPL’s 2005 Writer-in-Residence Program

Due to recent and unfortunate medical complications, Wayson Choy, KPL’s 2005 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence, will be unable to complete his residency.

Wayson Choy has recently undergone emergency quadruple heart by-pass surgery. Although Mr. Choy is out of intensive care and expected to make a full recovery, he will be undergoing an extended period of physiotherapy and convalescence over the course of the next several months.

Although Mr. Choy’s upcoming series of “Writer’s Craft” workshops have been cancelled, he is most insistent on meeting with all the prospective authors who have submitted their manuscripts for his appraisal. Staff at the Kitchener Public Library will be contacting everyone who has already submitted a manuscript to reschedule a personal appointment with Mr. Choy. These dates will most likely be sometime in the spring of 2006. Unfortunately, the library will not be accepting any additional manuscripts for appraisal.

Below is a list of the cancelled Writer's Craft workshops:

A Writer's Life: Symbols and Realities
Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm
Main Library

When and Where Can You Get Published?
Saturday, October 29 at 10:00 am
Main Library

Write For Yourself
Monday, November 7 at 7:00 pm
Main Library

Books and Breakfast “The Jade Peony”
Saturday, November 19th at 10:00 am
Main Library


Final Readings and Farewell
Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 pm
Main Library

The management and staff of Kitchener Public Library wish Wayson Choy a speedy and comfortable recovery

About the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence Program
The Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence program was established in 1996. The Program was endowed with a generous donation of one hundred thousand dollars from local author and library advocate, Edna Staebler through the Kitchener Public Library Foundation. Ms Staebler’s desire has been to provide writers with the information and encouragement necessary to “keep at it” and succeed in a challenging profession.
In the past, KPL has been honoured to have a long list of exceptional Canadian authors serve as our Writer-in-Residence, including: Veronica Ross (1997), Jack Batten (1998), Betty Jane Wylie (1999), Welwyn Wilton Katz (2000), John B. Lee (2001), Kathy Stinson (2002), Andrew Pyper (2003) and Lyn Hamilton (2004).

For more information, please contact

August 22, 2005

Kitchener