Brampton Library

{{Short description|Municipal public library system in Ontario, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox library | name = Brampton Library | logo = Brampton Library (logo).png | type = Public library | coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=inline}} | city = Brampton | established = 1858 | ref_legal_mandate = | num_branches = 8 branches<ref name="branches">{{cite web |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/your-library/branches |title=Branches}}</ref> | items_collected = | collection_size = 562,000 | criteria = | legal_deposit = | annual_circulation = | budget = | director = Todd Kyle<ref name="library-board">{{cite web |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/your-library/library-board |title=Library Board}}</ref> | num_employees = 160 | website = {{official URL}} }}

The '''Brampton Library''' is a system of public libraries in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

During the 2003 Ontario Public Library Week (October 20 to 26), the library was rebranded with a new logo, and changed its name from the Brampton Public Library to Brampton Library.

The library has eight branches, with a collection of more than 562,000 books, magazines, large-print materials, audiobooks, and DVDs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brampton Library |url=https://polaris.iiidiscovery.com/?p=344 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Polaris Tour |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Careers |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/careers |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Brampton Public Library |language=EN}}</ref> It has a staff of 160 full-time and part-time employees.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Todd Kyle is the chief executive officer of the Brampton Library.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pecar |first=Steve |date=2021-01-05 |title=Brampton Library names new chief executive officer {{!}} inBrampton |url=https://www.insauga.com/brampton-library-names-new-chief-executive-officer/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=INsauga |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History== In 1858, a library was founded and run by the Mechanic's Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-11-07 |title=Brampton Library is Inspiring Connections |url=https://perspective.ca/brampton-library-inspiring-connections/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Perspective |language=en-CA}}</ref> Its 360 volumes, plus a federal grant of $160, were the starting blocks for the first actual public library in Brampton, founded in 1887 in the Golding Building on Queen Street.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} As printing presses were still relatively expensive to operate, and thus book prices high, the facility had written contracts with patrons to check out books. Only the librarian and library board members were allowed to take books off the shelves.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 1902, the library was one of several public libraries to receive a grant from American industrialist Andrew Carnegie to build a new library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carnegie libraries in Ontario |url=https://www.ontario.ca/page/carnegie-libraries-ontario |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=ontario.ca |language=en}}</ref> After a meeting with the Brampton Board of Trade's R.J. Copeland, and a promise from the city to increase its funding from $1000 to $1250 a year, Carnegie provided another $12,500 for the facility.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 1946, the Brampton Library began letting residents under the age of 16 sign out books from the collection.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

During the 1960s and 1970s, the system expanded to fit the needs of a growing population. The expansion included the Northwood Park Branch, South Branch, and Heart Lake Branch. The Heart Lake later became Cyril Clark Branch.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

left|thumb|The Civic Centre building, which formerly housed the Chinguacousy Branch, in 2021

In 1972, Bramalea Consolidated Developments constructed the Civic Centre for Chinguacousy Township in the centre of the developing "new town" of Bramalea within it. This facility included a large space for a central library branch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frisque |first=Graeme |date=2023-03-13 |title=Future of Brampton’s ‘flagship’ library uncertain after being forced to relocate to make room for medical school |url=https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/council/future-of-brampton-s-flagship-library-uncertain-after-being-forced-to-relocate-to-make-room/article_384c19cd-3bf8-5261-b24c-91ac9132444c.html |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Brampton Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rumbolt |first=Ryan |date=2023-08-02 |title=Video: Say farewell to Chinguacousy Library with a flashback to Bramalea Civic Centre in the '70s {{!}} inBrampton |url=https://www.insauga.com/video-say-farewell-to-chinguacousy-library-with-a-flashback-to-bramalea-civic-centre-in-the-70s/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=INsauga |language=en-US}}</ref> When Brampton and Chinguacousy merged in 1974,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bramalea |url=https://www.neighbourhoodguide.com/peel/brampton/bramalea/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Neighbourhood Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> their library systems became one. Bramalea's Chinguacousy Branch joined Brampton's Central Branch (which had replaced the Carnegie library in 1958 and was later renamed to Four Corners Branch)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hulley |first=Bob |date=2007-11-30 |title=BRAMPTON CARNEGIE LIBRARY |url=https://bobhulley.blogspot.com/2007/11/brampton-carnegie-library.html |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Our Heritage on the Web}}</ref> and others. As the reference branch, Chinguacousy was host to an extensive collection of microfilm, local history materials, and genealogy resources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genealogical Research Library - Chinguacousy Branch: Our Family History |url=https://genealogistonajourney.net/TNG/showrepo.php?repoID=REPO238&tree=tree1 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=genealogistonajourney.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brampton Library, Chinguacousy Branch |url=https://peel.cioc.ca/record/BRA9002 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=peel.cioc.ca}}</ref> In 2008, the majority of these materials were moved to the Four Corners location in the newly renovated Local History section on the second floor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local History and Genealogy |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/books-and-more/local-history-and-genealogy |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Brampton Public Library |language=EN}}</ref>

Books-by-mail services ended in 1975.<ref name="1975-06-03" />

A neighbourhood branch was eventually opened in a retail plaza at Ray Lawson Boulevard and Hurontario Street; it was renamed the County Court Branch when it was moved to an office building nearby, and later renamed again to Fletcher's Creek Branch. When the South Fletcher's Sportsplex was built, Fletcher's Creek moved from private to public property, and was renamed South Fletcher's Branch.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 2011, the Brampton Library system opened the Mount Pleasant Branch in the northwest area of the city. This replaced the Northwest Interim Branch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facilities Master Plan Update 2011 - October 2011 |url=https://www.readkong.com/page/facilities-master-plan-update-2011-october-2011-5123396 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.readkong.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Gore Meadows Branch was built in the northeast of the city at Castlemore and The Gore Roads and opened in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=LIBRARY SERVICES |url=https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Annual-Report/Documents/2013/LIBRARY%20SERVICES.pdf |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=brampton.ca}}</ref> This location is part of a city recreation centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gore Meadows Community Centre and Library |url=https://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/Recreation/Community-Centres/Pages/Gore-Meadows.aspx |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.brampton.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>

thumb|Brampton Library Springdale Branch In addition to the six regular branches, Brampton Library also operated an interim site in the northeast region of the city. This housed a very small collection, mostly DVDs and paperbacks, as well as allowing patrons to pick up and return items. This interim site closed in the fall of 2016 because the nearby full-service branch was expected to begin operating in the summer of 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sterling |first=Shaunte |date=2017-04-18 |title=New Springdale Library Delayed For a Second Time |url=https://bramptonist.com/new-springdale-library-delayed-for-a-second-time/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Bramptonist |language=en-US}}</ref> The new full-service location opened in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-06 |title=Springdale Library official opening |url=https://www.rdharch.com/blog/2017/8/11/waterdown-library-wins-international-architecture-award-jcg5w-at362-5e9xp |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=RDHA |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2018, the library stopped charging late fees for children's materials;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rumbolt |first=Ryan |date=2022-01-13 |title=Brampton Library goes late fee free {{!}} inBrampton |url=https://www.insauga.com/brampton-library-goes-late-fee-free/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=INsauga {{!}} Ontario Local News Network |language=en-US}}</ref> in December 2021 the library board voted to eliminate fines for any material returned late<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/your-library/your-account/faq |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Brampton Public Library |language=EN}}</ref> and canceled all outstanding fines on 31 January 2022.<ref name="Gamrot">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/local-brampton/news/2022/01/13/brampton-libraries-join-mississauga-in-cutting-fines-on-overdue-materials.html|title=Brampton libraries join Mississauga in cutting fines on overdue materials|last=Gamrot|first=Sabrina|newspaper=Brampton Guardian|via=Toronto Star|date=13 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> It still assesses fines for materials not returned, for those returned in damaged condition, or for holds that are not picked up.<ref name="Gamrot" />

In 2023, despite criticism from residents, Brampton City Council voted to close the Chinguacousy Branch located in the Civic Centre building in order to convert the building into a medical school and relocate it to the Chinguacousy Park Ski Chalet, a much smaller space, and the branch was shuttered on August 1, 2023 after 50 years in operation. It reopened in the Chinguacousy Park Ski Chalet on August 22 of that year, on an interim basis until a new permanently location could be found.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinguacousy branch FAQs |url=https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/index.php/uncategorised/443-chinguacousy-faq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905011537/https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/index.php/uncategorised/443-chinguacousy-faq |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |access-date= |website=Brampton Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durling |first=Jessica R. |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Bramalea Civic Centre Chinguacousy library being evicted to host TMU medical school despite few details to support the plan |url=https://thepointer.com/article/2023-02-17/bramalea-civic-centre-chinguacousy-library-being-evicted-to-host-tmu-medical-school-despite-few-details-to-support-the-plan |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The Pointer |language=en}}</ref> At a special council meeting on January 16th, 2025 Brampton City Council unanimously voted to move the Chinguacousy Branch to the site of the former Howden Recreation Centre for a joint redevelopment that will see 30,000 square foot of library space return with a connecting Recreation Centre.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEvasxBKzfw |title=City Council - Special Meeting - January 16, 2025 |date=2025-01-17 |last=City of Brampton |access-date=2025-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Branches== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name !Location !Dates !class="unsortable"|Notes !class="unsortable"|Image |- |'''Chinguacousy''' |Bramalea 9050 Bramalea Road | 2023-present | Formerly at 150 Central Park Drive from 1972 or 1973 and was located inside the Bramalea Civic Centre.

Brampton was the first public library system in Ontario to acquire federal and provincial case law records. The case law collection was opened in this branch in 1978, on the prompt of the Central Ontario Regional Library System.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kashmeri|first1=Zuhair|title=Brampton library has law records|work=The Globe and Mail|date=19 September 1978|page=9}}</ref>

This branch was renovated in late 2016 and early 2017, and was reopened in August 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/images/pdf/Home/updated%20ch%20temp%20services%2017x11%201.pdf|title=Library Construction Notice|website=Brampton Library|access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bramptonist.com/chinguacousy-library-branch-reopens-after-major-revamp/|title=Chinguacousy Library Branch Reopens After Major Revamp|last=Brown|first=Nikita|date=1 August 2018|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref>

This branch removed to Chinguacousy Park in 2023 due to Toronto Metropolitan University's (TMU) new medical school after city council voted to gift the building. Services have been reduced at current location limited to 10,000 square feet versus the 30,000 at the Civic Centre. | |- |'''Cyril Clark''' |Heart Lake 20 Loafer's Lake Lane |Opened 1985 |Opened September 21, 1985, it was said to be the first public library in Canada to be fully computerized.<ref name="1985-TS-cc-opens">{{cite news|title=New library named after colourful politician opens soon in Brampton|work=The Toronto Star|date=10 September 1985|page=H2}}</ref> The 12,000 sq. ft. structure cost $1.5 million, and was to house 30,000 books and audio-visual items.<ref name="1985-TS-cc-opens" />

It is named after the Township of Chinguacousy's last reeve, Cyril Clark.<ref name="1985-TS-cc-opens" /> | |- |'''Four Corners''' |Downtown 65 Queen Street East | |Until 1979, this was known alternatively as the Main Branch and Central Services Branch.<ref name="1975-06-03" /> It has had numerous renovations, including in 1991.<ref name="rapidly-growing" /> | |- |'''Gore Meadows''' |Gore Meadows 10150 The Gore Road |Opened 2013 | | |- |'''Mount Pleasant Village''' |Mount Pleasant 100 Commuter Dr. |Opened 25 Nov 2011<ref name=MPV-opens>{{cite news|last=Goodfellow|first=Ashley|title=New library opens|url=http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/1239020--new-library-opens|access-date=27 April 2013|newspaper=The Brampton Guardian|date=7 November 2011|location=Brampton ON}}</ref> |This replaced the North-West Interim Site after several years of operation. It is a multi-use facility attached to Mount Pleasant Village School and Community Centre. | |- |'''Springdale''' |Springdale 10705 Bramalea Road |Opened 2018 |In 1991, it was announced for a 2006 opening.<ref name="rapidly-growing" /> |- |'''South Fletcher's''' |Fletcher's Creek South 500 Ray Lawson Blvd |Opened 1997 | | |- |'''South West Branch'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/bramlib/docs/bl_ic_1909-12_v9_-_web|title = Inspiring Connections |Brampton Library Program Guide September - December 2019| date=21 August 2019 }}</ref> |Huttonville 8405 Financial Dr. |Opened 2020<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazzucco |first1=Lucy |title=New library branch now open in Brampton |url=https://quickbitenews.com/article/brampton/new-library-branch-now-open-in-brampton/ |website=inbrampton |date=10 January 2020 |publisher=Quickbitenews.com |access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref> | | |}

===Previous branches=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name !Location !Dates !class="unsortable"|Notes !class="unsortable"|Image |- |Bramalea |Bramalea 106 East Drive |Closed around 1972 or 1973 |This branch was replaced by the Chinguacousy branch. It was located on East Drive, just east of Bramalea. | |- |Carnegie |Downtown 55 Queen Street East |1907-1974 |It was funded by Andrew Carnegie; see Carnegie library. It was replaced by the Four Corners branch, in the building immediately to the east. The building is now home to the Brampton Concert Band and the Jazz Mechanics.

At the 1938 annual general meeting, it was announced that Wm. Perkins Bull's "pioneer and Indian relics" would be housed at the library on display.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brampton Library Gets Collection of Relics|work=The Globe and Mail|date=22 February 1938|page=4}}</ref> When former Brampton High School principal William James Fenton died in 1952, it was decided that the proposed addition to the structure would be named in his honour.<ref>{{cite news|title=William James Fenton: School Principal For 36 Years, Active in Sport|work=The Globe and Mail|date=9 July 1951|page=4}}</ref> |right|150px|Carnegie Building serving as the Brampton Public Library, 1909. Postcard from the Richard L. Frost collection. |- |County Court |Fletcher's Creek South 201 County Court Boulevard |1988-1991 |This branch was replaced by the Fletcher's Creek branch. It was located in a commercial office building. | |- |Fletcher's Creek |Fletcher's Creek South 7700 Hurontario Street South |1991-1997 |This branch replaced the County Court branch. It was housed in the City South Plaza in two floors of what is now professional office space. The second floor was renovated in 1991.<ref name="rapidly-growing">{{cite news|last1=Perkins|first1=Alana|title=Brampton's libraries keeping pace with rapidly-growing communities|work=The Toronto Star|date=31 October 1991|location=Toronto ON}}</ref> The branch was replaced by the South Fletcher's branch. | |- |Northeast Interim Site |Springdale 55 Mountainash Road, Unit 24 |Closed Oct 1, 2016 |Located at the Springdale Square shopping centre. It was closed based on expected availability of a new near-by branch, which was not yet ready when the branch was closed. | |- |Northwest Interim |Mount Pleasant 10500 Creditview Road |Closed 2011 |This branch was opened to serve the rapid population growth in the area. This branch was replaced by the Mount Pleasant branch. | |- |Northwood Park |Flowertown and Northwood Park 10 Flowertown Avenue |Closed 28 June 1975 |With usage dropping in 1974, with people heading to the larger branch, the library distributed 3000 flyers to area households in February 1975.<ref name="1975-06-03">{{cite news |date=3 June 1975 |title=Library Planning To Close Branches |work=The Daily Times |location=Brampton |page=1}}</ref> The branch was closed due to budget cutbacks and staff relocated, at the same time as the South branch.<ref name="1975-06-03" /> | |- |South |Eldomar Heights/Peel Village 160 Main Street South |November 1966-28 June 1975 |Located at the Brampton Mall, the South branch was opened by Mayor Russell Prouse in an 18 November 1966 ceremony, with circulation starting the next day, a Saturday. It offered both adult and children's books.<ref>"Mall Branch Library", ''The Bramalea Guardian'', 16 November 1966, page 3.</ref> The branch was closed due to budget cutbacks and staff relocated, at the same time as the Northwood Park branch.<ref name="1975-06-03" /> The library system considered South branch too small, and asked council for new facilities west of Main Street South; the plan was turned down by council. A branch would be needed in the area within five years.<ref name="1975-06-03" /> | |}

==Services== *Information and reference services *Access to full text databases *Community information *Internet access *Readers' advisory services *Programs for children, youth and adults

===List of teen services=== * Youth Leadership Program * Teen Library Council * Animation-Manga Club * Toastmasters Program

==See also== * Ontario Public Libraries * Ask Ontario

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Brampton Library}} * [https://www.bramptonlibrary.ca/ Brampton Library]

Category:Buildings and structures in Brampton Category:Public libraries in Ontario Category:Carnegie libraries in Canada Category:Culture of Brampton Category:Education in Brampton Category:Library buildings completed in 1908 Category:Tourist attractions in Brampton Category:1908 establishments in Ontario Brampton Category:Organizations based in Brampton