Parham Library branch opening

Jeff Green | Jun 01, 2016

More politicians and library board members than you can shake a stick at were present at the official opening of the Parham branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library last Saturday morning, May 28.

Not only was County Warden (and Central Frontenac mayor) Frances Smith on hand, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal and County Council rep John McDougall were on hand as well. They joined library board chair, Claudette Richardson and chief librarian, Patricia Enright, along with Parham residents and local librarian Glenda Young, and the small, clean, well-appointed and stocked space was packed to the rafters for the event.

The opening of the new branch reflects a compromise between the Township of Central Frontenac and the library board. The board was inclined to close the branch, which had been housed in a portable that was attached to the now closed Hinchinbrooke Public School. Central Frontenac wanted to keep the branch open and invested in an addition for the library when they approved the construction of a new Parham fire hall last year. A compromise was reached whereby the library board agreed to stock and staff the branch; but there is a catch.

For Parham residents it is a use it or lose it proposition. There is no hard and fast time frame, but the library will be tracking the use of the branch over the next year or so to see if the number of users and the materials taken out increase to a level where the branch remains viable. Library supporters in Parham are urging their neighbors to consider all that the branch offers.

(see article below by Nancy Benn)

The Parham library needs you

By Nancy Benn

(and when you read this you will know why you need the Parham Library)

Residents of Parham and the surrounding area are delighted that the library is back up and running, attached to the new fire hall on the Wagarville Road.

Regular library users are well aware of the services that a library provides. Book loans are obvious but many people do not realize that a library delivers far more than that.

If you are in the mood for movies, or any of the popular series (Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad, Ray Donovan), then you will find thousands of titles to choose from. If you want to read from a list of over 200 popular magazines you can read them for free through Zinio. Hoopla allows you to download movies, television shows, music, audio and ebooks directly to your computer, tablet, or smart phone.

You can spend hours browsing through the extensive catalog while comfortably seated in your favourite chair at home. Order on line and you will be notified when the book or DVD has been delivered to the Parham library branch. You can use the free Internet service provided at the library, or look through the book and movie shelves. Watch anything from the very old to the most recent releases. And it will not cost you a cent.

The Parham Library needs to increase membership and usage and we are encouraging all of you to pop in for a visit. Get a library card from our librarian, Glenda Young, and then start to enjoy an incredible service.

Parham Library hours are 4 until 6pm on Tuesday; 6 until 8pm on Thursday; and 10am until 12 noon on Saturday. The Kingston Frontenac Public Library website address is www.kfpl.ca.

We need all Parham and nearby community members to recognize how lucky we are to have this type of entertainment right here on our doorstep, and we need you to show your support by getting a card and signing out some reading or viewing material. Once you start, we guarantee that you will be hooked.