Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Library Card

Northern Lights Public School, We Are Walking

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 03:40:28 +0000

We picked Northern Lights Public School – good school, close by and Matthew will only attend two days a week, and three days every other week in his first year junior kindergarten.

Few days ago I decided to walk with him to school. He didn’t resist but it wasn’t his best walking day so it was good to time the worst case scenario. It took us about twenty five minutes to slow walk. Hopefully by next week Thursday Matthew will focus on walking to school and my pockets will not be filled with stones, flowers and tree branches.

Northern Lights Public School, Bridgenorth Drive, Aurora

We decided no school bus. Matthew will walk to school, of course, I will walk with him. We walk around Aurora a lot, so I know he can do it. It is only two days a week, and no worries if it is raining or really cold I will drive him to school. We are not exactly close but 1.6 km is manageable.

Northern Lights Public School, Bridgenorth Drive, Aurora

We are definitely ready for school – knapsack, big lunch box (Matthew used to call it a big box of food), clothes and stickers.

But really, are we really ready? Matthew says he is. I on the other hand getting nervous for him, and, and, and I am going to miss him. I am holding back and saving all my tears for the first day of school, but today I almost let them out when I was making pancakes.

Northern Lights Public School, Bridgenorth Drive, Aurora

It is hard to believe that he is going to school. Over four years there was first day at the Hamilton Park playground; first time at the McDonalds and Tim Horton’s; first time at the Aurora Public Library and getting first library card; first time walking Arboretum; first time walking McKenzie Marsh boardwalk and Nokiidaa Trail Link boardwalk – etc etc.

Next week there will be first time going to Northern Lights Public School. I know he will be fine but I will not be able to see that ‘fine‘. All four years every day I was always around, but this time I won’t be. I will be only 1.6 km away and it will feel like 1600 km away.

Northern Lights Public School, Bridgenorth Drive, Aurora

Now I will have all this free time. I think to adjust to recent change I will be rubbing and scrubbing the house, or may be not. May be I will venture out more on my photo journeys around Aurora.

Or better idea, why don’t I hang out around the Optimist playground and when Matthew goes on the recess I can see him via my zoom lens. May be just for the month of September I be a stalking mom.

Northern Lights Public School, Bridgenorth Drive, Aurora

“True life is lived when tiny changes occur.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Children Versus Adult Library Card, The Difference, Oh I Guess I Am Reading Children’s Books

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:52:08 +0000

We were out the Aurora library at the check-out. Matthew had his books and DVDs, and I had my nice selection too. I gave the librarian my library card and she scanned all the DVDs.

Then she asked if I had child card (she meant for Matthew), which I did. She suggested to use child library card versus adult card because penalty for child books is 5 cents a day versus 25 cents a day for an adult. We are always on time with our returns – but never know what may happen one day. We already did one little mistake bringing an empty DVD case.

First Light, Book by Rebecca Stead

I liked the suggestion, however it applies to children books only, so I started to separate my books from the pile. The librarian assured me that all the books I had were children books. I looked up and said – ‘oh I guess I am reading children’s books‘. ‘That’s fine‘ – she replied smiling.

‘There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.’ ~ Jacqueline Kennedy

So I am reading children’s books and I am really enjoying them. I must have read over 20 books by now and I have not found a bad book yet – meaning to read first page and that was it.

By reading children’s books (or more like young adult books) I am compensating for all the missing years of not being able to read during my teenage years.

When we came to this country I was 14 years old. In a week I started high school grade 9 second semester. I did well in math and science as it seems very universal at that time. English – I had a lot to learn.

I remembered that when I finally was able to read and understand well written stories it was in my third year of university. It was a relief to read an exciting book between my engineering and very technical exams. At that time they were books for adults.

Having this great opportunity to be with Matthew and to read so many books for him also I am given an opportunity to step back in time and able to complete reading books I have missed during my teenage years.

Our Library Is Not Lending Library, Your Library Card Is Free

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:29:03 +0000

It is not a first time I have been asked if the Aurora library card or membership is free. Since we got our new library cards for free back in August we are regularly taking books and DVDs out also for free. We take then out and we return them. That is how a library works. There is an option to take books out virtually and guess what – it is free.

Aurora Library with Cultural Centre

According to AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES POLICY last approved September 15, 2010 states:

LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP

There is no charge for membership with the Aurora Public Library to those who live, work, attend school (K-12), or own property, in Aurora or in a York Public Libraries Network municipality (YPLN – Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan).

The annual membership fee for those who do not live, work, attend school, or own property, in Aurora or a YPLN municipality is $40.00 per person.

Temporary Aurora residents are charged a $20.00 deposit which is refunded upon the return of all materials and the membership card.

Replacement cost for a lost or damaged membership card is $2.00.

I think this is fair enough policy.

Aurora Library

I don’t know if I can even call this statistics if you ever ask me for numbers. For information, two residents asked if library was free, and two residents asked where was library located. Ask to where, I understand. But I was surprised that someone would actually ask if library was free to use.

In 40 years I have not paid a single coin for using a library. I always thought it was free. Every definition out there defines the library as ‘a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed‘. In addition, ‘under the Public Libraries Act, the Municipality approves and provides a funding amount…‘

There is a term out there called lending library, a commercial establishment lending books for a fixed charge. Our library is not.

Couple of months ago I met a lady with two children on the Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk. She was new to the town. She asked if the town had a library. I told her where to go.

Now, the question is how do we find library in our town?

Telephone book.
Search Google.

That is easy answer.

Aurora Library

The second question, how do you let people know that our town has a library? How do we remind people to visit town’s library and use its resources?

Our library has amazing display of information about the library inside. Unless you visit the library you would never know.

Our library has amazing website. Unless someone is interested in the library they will know how to search the web.

Many of us avoid traffic on the Yonge Street, starting at Wellington Street going South. In the same direction where the library is. That many of us forget about the library. Sometimes visibility can remind us or spark ideas.

Town of Aurora issues The Town of Aurora Parks and Recreation Guide, I think couple of times a year and I am surprised that there was no reference to Library, not a single ad.

To conclude my thoughts I really don’t know where the misconception about library not being free comes from. Did our library once charged its residents for membership or for the library cards? Why would someone even ask? May be new residents come from places where they had to pay membership.

I don’t have all the answers, but may be it is time to let more people know that our library is free for all Aurora residents. I only know so many people to spread the word, meaning not many.