Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Library

Sunday Break, Aurora Cultural Centre Library Room, Deceiving Reflection

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:21 +0000

Sunday photo showcase. All posts titled Sunday Break are photo(s) only and a quote. Posted photos may not be necessary the most current one and as always it is all about the Town of Aurora. Enjoy!

Aurora Cultural Centre, Library Room

‘With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one – but no one at all – can tell you what to read and when and how.’ ~ Doris Lessing

Our Museum, It’s Like You Know The UFO Sighting, But Check Out The Library

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:47:12 +0000

Museum in our town is the ongoing issue. Meaning we really don’t have one right now and trying to get it back from the Cultural Center on the Church Street. It only make sense that the building will be the Aurora’s museum as it was retrofitted with temperature and humidity control rooms.

Many times when I was downtown Aurora driving I saw signs in few places leading to the Museum. Aha, I guess there is a hope, but for now we have a better chance to have UFO sighting. But then, may be not, wait until I tell you what I found in the library.

Welcome to Historic Aurora Sign

The other day I stopped to photograph the really outdated sign (looked brand new and it was a must photo for this post) located on the plaza where the liquidation blue store and Dollarama is, near the intersection of Wellington Street and Yonge Street. I can only assume that it was installed by Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

On the side note, watch out for the traffic in this area, especially for pedestrians. It felt like I was downtown – people walked around the cars as the cars were crawling in everywhere even into to pedestrian zones.

Back to the sign. Turning left will get you to the Library. Going straight will get you to the Museum. Good luck! I will take my own way. I went straight instead and visited Library afterwards.

I must officially declare that for every few books we return to the library, we take the same out. We are regulars. We like library now. It will be good to visit especially during the cold winter days.

Typewriter, Believed To Be Used by Andrew's Family

I call my Matthew little snooper, but I like to do that too. As a result of our snooping around we found something. A small museum exhibit. So for those who like to see partial museum exhibits from Aurora, they can actually visit our local library. The first exhibit was displayed in September, I believe, and was showing old typewriter that was found in the house where Marjorie Andrew and her family lived. In addition the exhibit displayed a fountain pen and pair of old glasses.

The latest display features the town of Aurora library history. I wasn’t clear to me if the old tools were used to built the library as they were also on display as a loaner from the Aurora Historical Society.

Old Tools

Finally I am filling all the empty gaps. I once talked about the Victoria Hall and I thought that Victoria Hall was the former oldest library in town. No, it is going farther. The building right across Victoria street is, see picture below. I think you will recognize its unique color and features.

The Aurora Oldest Library Orgins

Aurora Library History Display

Interesting enough, all the libraries are very close to each other. You can see them all starting from the intersection of Victoria Street and Mosley Street, then walking along Victoria South to 1963 library, then right on Church Street towards Yonge Street, the recent library.

Never know may be one day you will be able to visit the Aurora’s museum on your way, as per current signs.

Library Board Minutes Log Book

Well, our journey throughout the town ended in finding small museum exhibit and no UFO. May be next time.

Aurora Library Visit, A Library Card & Introduction

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:30:41 +0000

I made plans to visit the Aurora Public Library, and we did on Tuesday, day after the long weekend (Civic Holiday). Honestly, I was surprised how busy it was. Parents with children, teenagers, adults, and seniors were everywhere we turned.

Our library has everything, including state of the art equipment to do research. The librarians were very attentive. I came mainly because my library card was expired, and I also needed access to the e-book downloads. We still don’t have a second car so the virtual library access is well suited for my needs.

I think for a small town we are very fortunate to have this great resource available here in Aurora.

Aurora Public Library Books

Secondly, I also wanted to introduce my 3 year old son to the concept of library. We brought him few times to the Chapters in Newmarket, but that is not the same. He already has a collection of over 200 children’s book and the library is the next step for him and for us to step away from buying more books.

I don’t know if we did well on the first visit. When I came home all I wanted to do is to rest and laugh. I shall share my laughs with you here today.

Aurora Public Library

His eyes went big at the entrance. He saw children, and I know what he was thinking then, a playground and more children.

First, Matthew noticed a little girl holding a very popular children’s book Chicka Chicka Bum Bum, a Spanish version of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, book by Bill Martin Jr. He came up to her and asked ‘What are you reading girl?‘. She said ‘funny book‘ and shared with him for few seconds. She took the book back and left.

For the next hour in the library his goal was to find this book again, and I think mainly because he has one at home and this one also said ‘bum bum‘. While getting the library card I kept telling Matthew to whisper, as he kept being exciting about things around and pointing and telling me all about it out loud. I sounded like a broken record, Matthew that, this, and that, shhhhhhhh, whisper please. Soon as we got the card he was on the mission – elevator first, which sometimes he forgets and calls it an ‘alligator‘.

In the last minute we sneaked into the elevator. Inside there was a father with little girl, probably Matthew’s age, 3. Again, Matthew tries to make friends. ‘Hi, hi‘ – he kept greeting them. Then he followed them to the children’s section. This is were he again started to coming up to every child in the room and asking questions and talking. ‘Matthew we whisper here, please keep your voice down‘ – I kept repeating.

Now Matthew spotted a girl with another book he knows, The Little Engine That Could. She had a nice pile of books on the shelf ready to take out along with the Engine book. So my dear Matthew comes up to her and takes the pile of books away and starts to walk away. ‘Matthew put that down, these are not yours‘ – I had to explain.

The father with girl left the room. Matthew spotted them outside the door, ran away and started to follow them to the elevator. I was able to convince him to stay on this floor by showing him different Dr. Seuss books, the one he does not have yet. We were able to sit for a bit and enjoy a busy traffic on the Yonge Street from library window. But not for long. He remembered that he needed to find the Chicka Chicka Bum Bum book.

View of Yonge Street from the Aurora Public Library Window

I told him to ask for it at the information desk, and he did. Unfortunately all the books were checked out. At this point I was exhausted and had to bribe him that he can get a treat outside the library. I gave him Aurora 1945-1965, An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change book by Elizabeth Hearn Milner to carry. He carried to the check out. Same lady that signed me up with the library card checked the book out for us.

So not only he checked every corner of the library, got a ride in the elevator, greeted and talked to almost every child that passed by him, made some noises and was loud, asked questions; he also made himself popular as the lady at the checkout said ‘Bye Bye Matthew’. He waved back, smiled at her, and charged outside the door for the treat.

At home we repeated all he did in the library, and I ensured that next time when he goes to the library he will be walking slowly, he will be whispering and he will not take books away from other children. He can have different books, take them out, read them and must always bring them back.

‘I understand’ – was his reply.

We shall see next time.

Aurora Public Library Books

On the side note, the Aurora 1945-1965, An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change book by Elizabeth Hearn Milner published not very long time ago (2007) turned out to be interesting book. I will talk about it another time.