innovation

Caledon Public Library Provides $27.9 Million Value for the Caledon Community

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Caledon, ON – Caledon Public Library (CPL) has released a report on the economic benefit to the community of its services, collections and spaces. The report finds that, last year, CPL delivered a total economic value of $27,922,954 million or $3.75 for every municipal dollar invested in the Library.

CPL evaluated key domains including education, economic development, social inclusion and well-being, and culture, calculating a social return on investment (SROI) of 374.83%. This equates to $312.94 per resident or $966.53 per household in 2025, effectively leveraging the municipal investment of $84.05 per resident.

To accompany the report, CPL has created a short video highlighting the key findings and impact of library services in the community. The video can be viewed on their YouTube channel.

“Public libraries are often described as free, but our spaces and services are largely funded through local taxes paid by residents and businesses,” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “This report shows that each municipal dollar invested delivers meaningful economic and social value in return. Using the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit allows us to clearly measure not only financial impact, but also the broader benefits that support learning, connection, and well-being across Caledon.”

CPL measured its value using the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit (VOLT) developed by the Ontario Library Service and the NORDIK Institute. VOLT helps libraries apply a dollar value to the services they offer for free in order to calculate the benefit provided.

“The Library plays an essential role as a welcoming space and free public resource in our community,” said Tony Maxwell, Chair of the Caledon Public Library Board. “This report helps demonstrate the impact of library services, while reinforcing the Board’s role as a responsible steward of public investment. As we continue to evaluate the economic benefit every two years, we remain focused on increasing that return and ensuring our services reflect the evolving needs of Caledon residents.”

Caledon Public Library Brings Students Together for Battle of the Books

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Caledon, ON – Young readers, grades 4-6, from across Caledon put their knowledge to the test as Caledon Public Library hosted its first Battle of the Books on Tuesday, April 28 at the Caledon East Community Complex.

This high energy event brought together six elementary school teams for reading trivia and friendly competition. Students went head-to-head in a series of fast paced rounds, answering questions based on a shared reading list. The day built toward a final showdown with an awards presentation, recognizing all teams and celebrating the top three schools: Palgrave Public School took first place, followed by Belfountain Public School in second and James Bolton Public School in third.

“Battle of the Books was a celebration of reading and teamwork,” said Laurie Groe, Manager, Programming and Outreach, Caledon Public Library. “It was inspiring to see students come together to share their love of books and challenge themselves while cheering each other on.”

Participating schools included Alton Public School, Belfountain Public School, Caledon Central Public School, James Bolton Public School, Palgrave Public School, and SouthFields Village Public School.

Battle of the Books encourages students to engage deeply with reading while helping them build confidence and collaboration skills.

Community Turns Out for Caledon Seedy Saturday with Special Guest Frankie Flowers

Caledon Public Library News Caledon East, Caledon Public Library, Community, Friends of Caledon Public Library, innovation, library, seedy saturday

Caledon, ON – More than 300 community members gathered on Saturday, March 7 at the Caledon East Community Complex for Caledon’s annual Seedy Saturday, a lively celebration of gardening, sustainability, and community connection. The free, family-friendly event was presented by Caledon Public Library together with Albion Hills Community Farm and Palgrave United Community Kitchen.

Visitors explored a vibrant mix of local vendors and community organizations, browsed seeds and gardening resources, and took part in hands-on activities for all ages. Popular features included the Bring a Plant / Take a Plant table, a café with refreshments, a Friends of Caledon Public Library book sale, and opportunities to connect with local groups focused on gardening, food sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

A highlight of the day was a special presentation by gardening expert Frank Ferragine, better known as Frankie Flowers, who shared seasonal gardening tips and stories that kept the audience both laughing and learning. His appearance was made possible through the support of the Friends of Caledon Public Library.

“Seedy Saturday is a wonderful example of how the library brings people together around shared interests,” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “From first-time gardeners to lifelong green thumbs, events like this create space for learning, connection, and community pride. We’re grateful to our partners and the Friends of the Library for helping make it possible.”

The Friends of Caledon Public Library funded Frankie Flowers’ visit through proceeds raised at their popular book sales throughout the year.

“Our book sales support programs and opportunities that bring the community together,” said Victoria Edwards, President of the Friends of Caledon Public Library. “It was incredibly rewarding to see so many people come out to Seedy Saturday and enjoy Frankie Flowers’ talk. Knowing that all our Friends helped make this happen makes it even more exceptional!”

For Frankie Flowers, the event reflected the spirit of community that gardening naturally creates.

“Gardening has always been about more than plants; it’s about people,” said Frankie Flowers. “When communities gather to share seeds, ideas, and inspiration, it helps everything grow a little stronger. It’s wonderful to see so much enthusiasm for gardening right here in Caledon.”

Seedy Saturday continues to be a valued annual tradition thanks to the dedication of local partners and volunteers.

“Every year we see neighbours, families, and gardeners come together to learn from each other and celebrate growing food and flowers locally,” said Karen Hutchinson of Albion Hills Community Farm. “That sense of connection is why we continue to host Seedy Saturday; it brings the community together around something positive and hopeful. It is great to be part of this pan-Canadian tradition.”

For more information about library programs and events, visit caledon.library.on.ca.

Caledon Public Library Launches First-Ever Summer Makerspace Camps for Young Creatives

Caledon Public Library News 2026, Caledon East, Caledon Public Library, Community, Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio, innovation, library, maker camps, makerspace, summer camps

Caledon, ON – This summer, creativity takes centre stage as Caledon Public Library (CPL) launches its first-ever Summer Makerspace Camps, delivered in partnership with the Town of Caledon Recreation Department, held in the Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio at the Caledon East Community Complex.

Designed for curious, creative kids who love to build, design, and experiment, these hands-on camps offer an exciting opportunity to explore real-world maker technologies in a supportive, supervised environment.

Campers will use tools such as 3D printers and 3D scanners, Cricut digital cutting machines, Direct-to-Garment printing, and a laser cutter to bring their ideas to life. No prior experience is required, just imagination and a willingness to try something new.

“CPL’s makerspaces are typically designed for ages 13 and up,” said Laura Groe, CPL’s Program & Outreach Manager. “These camps create the opportunity for younger participants to confidently explore creative technologies and discover what they’re capable of.”

Two camps will be offered in Summer 2026:
July 20–24, 2026 (Ages 10–14)
Maker to Market: Build Your Big Idea
A full-day camp (9am–4pm) where participants design, create, and refine a maker project while learning about prototyping, design thinking, and introductory entrepreneurial concepts. Mornings will be facilitated by CPL staff, with afternoon recreation programming led by Town of Caledon camp counsellors.

August 10–14, 2026 (Ages 9–12)
Maker Quest: Design, Test, Create!
A half-day camp (9am–12:30pm) introducing younger makers to hands-on creative projects using maker tools, guided design challenges, and collaborative problem-solving.

“These camps provide a welcoming and engaging environment where kids can safely explore, problem-solve, and build new skills,” said Catherine Arthurs, CPL’s Maker & Emerging Technologies Supervisor. “Campers will leave with greater confidence, practical experience, and pride in what they’ve created.”

Registration and camp logistics are managed by the Town of Caledon Recreation Department. Camps are open to both residents and non-residents.

Families can find full details and register through the Town of Caledon Camps page under Leadership Camps.

This summer, let your child imagine it, design it, and make it happen.

Caledon Public Library Wins Minister’s Award for Innovation

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Caledon, ON – Caledon Public Library (CPL) has won the 2025 Ontario Public Library Service Award for its project Caledon Connections: Leveraging Partnerships to Support Community.

The Minister’s Award for Innovation honours CPL’s partnership with Caledon Community Services (CCS), launched in 2024, which embeds CCS employment and community support staff within CPL’s Albion Bolton, Caledon East, and Southfields Village Branches. By offering services such as job search support, training, and settlement assistance directly in library spaces, the partnership removes barriers to access for residents across Caledon’s large and transit-limited geography.

“This award affirms the Library’s role as a trusted community hub,” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “Winning at the provincial level recognizes the real difference this partnership is making for residents and reinforces the power of libraries to connect people with the support they need, close to home.”

“Libraries are far more than places to borrow books; they are vital community connectors,” said Geraldine Aguiar, Caledon Community Services’ Executive Director. “Working alongside Caledon Public Library has allowed us to expand our reach and better support residents across Caledon.”

Since its launch, hundreds of residents have accessed CCS services through the Library, with many securing employment or being connected to additional community supports.

The Minister’s Award for Innovation, awarded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, recognizes successful new approaches that demonstrate a positive impact in a community and are of continued value. The award is presented annually at the Ontario Library Association Annual Conference in January.

For more information about Caledon Public Library’s programs and services, visit caledon.library.on.ca.

Caledon Public Library Year-End Letter, 2025

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Dear Caledon Community Members,

As we come to the end of 2025, we extend our thanks for another meaningful year at Caledon Public Library (CPL). Each day, we see how learning and creative exploration enrich the lives of people across our community. We see you build new skills in the makerspaces, attend lively author talks, and we hear the giggles of children enjoying stories and spaces built for them. These moments remind us of the important role the Library plays in Caledon.

You borrowed 300,000 physical items, from books and audiobooks to instruments and board games. A significant portion of these were children’s materials, which shows that families in Caledon are building positive early reading habits. You also streamed and accessed over 170,000 digital titles and resources from our Digital Library. Over 25,000 people attended library workshops, events, and story times. There were 350,000 visits to our branches and over 120,000 sessions using technology and tools including Wi-Fi, computer workstations, and makerspaces.

This year, we added telescopes, passes to the Royal Ontario Museum and McMichael Art Gallery, puzzles, and Ontario Stream backpacks to our Library of Things collection. We introduced free 1-on-1 appointments to help customers build skills using technology. In addition, we were thrilled to launch Extended Access at the Inglewood Branch, enabling customers to access the branch beyond staffed hours and doubling the hours when registered customers can make use of branch collections and services. We hope to expand this service to more branches in the coming years.

Looking ahead, 2026 will bring a full calendar of programs for all ages: story times promoting early literacy, family-friendly March Break activities, studio support hours in the makerspaces, author visits, and exciting opportunities for teens, adults, and older adults to come together to learn and grow. As always, we will continue to expand our collections of books and other fun and useful items, and we will keep providing the digital services you love, including Kanopy, Hoopla, Gale courses and Udemy, Overdrive, and more (visit cpl.social/digitallibrary for a full list).

We are grateful for the ongoing support of our dedicated staff and volunteers, the Library Board, the Friends of Caledon Public Library and our partners at the Town of Caledon. Their commitment and support helps strengthen our work and extend our reach across the community.

Most of all, thank you to the residents of Caledon. Your engagement, feedback, and support help shape the Library’s direction and inspire us to keep improving. We look forward to welcoming you in the new year whether it be in person, online, or through our home delivery service. And, if you don’t yet have a library card, getting one is an easy New Year’s resolution we’re happy to help you achieve.

Warm regards,
Colleen Lipp
CEO & Chief Librarian
Caledon Public Library

Caledon Public Library Launches 2025-2028 Strategic Plan

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Caledon Public Library (CPL) released its new strategic plan this week which sets the course for the Library’s activities over the next four years. The plan prioritizes connections, learning, and community-informed services, and it positions the Library as a champion of intellectual freedom, responsible for safeguarding open access to information and encouraging dialogue.

CPL’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan reflects the viewpoints and ideas of community members, both Library users and non-users, staff, the Library Board and Leadership, community partners, and Council. Along with its four new strategic priorities, the plan offers a reconfirmed vision, mission and values, which will guide CPL as it sets out to achieve its aligned action plan.

“Our vision for CPL is that it fuels an informed, inspired and connected Caledon. The Library will see this vision come to life by nurturing lifelong learners, championing innovation, and strengthening the communities within Caledon” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian. “Our values remain constant and reflect the core principles that guide every decision. CPL’s commitment to inclusivity and equity, to being a library for all, is at the top of the list.”

A committee of CPL staff and Board members along with creative strategy and consulting firm, Saffy Inc., led the creation of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan as well as a new logo and brand for the public library.

Jill Jambor, Manager of Communications and Cultural Development, explains, “the new logo, a tree, is a modern take on the traditional symbol of knowledge, growth, and connection. It connects us to information, to possibility, to our community and culture, to the physical place where we live, work, and learn, and, through enduring continual evolution, to the future.”

CPL shares more about the new plan in a video, and you can pick up a copy in any of the Library’s branches or view it online.

Flag Raised in Celebration of Caledon Public Library

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Caledon, ON – In tribute to the invaluable role of Caledon Public Library (CPL), the Town of Caledon raised a flag in recognition of the proclaimed Love Your Library Month and Ontario Public Library Week. The celebration highlighted how the Library serves as the heart of the community, providing essential resources and welcoming spaces for all.

Acting Mayor for the event, Regional Councillor Mario Russo shared the impressive impact of the library on the community. The Library offers free programs for all ages promoting social connection and supporting mental health, fosters a love of reading that contributes to academic success and emotional development particularly among children, and CPL’s team of supportive staff are ready to help each person who walks through the doors. Demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Caledon residents, the Library is more than just a place to borrow books; it is a vital community hub where individuals can gather, learn, and connect.

Continuing to evolve to meet the community’s needs, Caledon Public Library has taken its offerings to a new level. You can visit the Library’s two makerspaces and create using equipment like the garment printer or Glowforge laser, or record a demo in the recording studio at Margaret Dunn Valleywood; access free Wi-Fi and hotspots, online courses, and language programs from the comfort of home; borrow from the Library of Things collection featuring GoPro cameras, guitars, board games, park passes, and so much more.

CPL is a dynamic resource for exploration and creativity. For more information on your library and what it has to offer, visit https://caledon.library.on.ca/

Make It Happen at CPL

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Caledon, ON – Caledon Public Library (CPL) released a video which highlights new spaces and expanded collections, and features Library champions and staff, Make it Happen at Caledon Public Library.

“2023 was a year of immense growth at Caledon Public Library as we expanded our reach with the opening of new spaces, ensuring greater access to library resources across the Town” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “We also welcomed a dynamic new Board of Directors and released a long-term, comprehensive growth plan to guide the library’s vision through an upcoming period of rapid growth and change in Caledon.”

Highlights include celebrating two new makerspaces, the relocation of the Caledon East Branch which saw a 626% increase in visits in its first full quarter of operations, and the expansion of the Library’s multilingual collection. The Library hosted 898 programs which saw more than 14,500 attendees. Social media fostered connections with content reaching more than 99,000 individuals and generating over 6,000 interactions. Colleen announced future plans for Caledon Public Library’s next branch in Mayfield West.

CPL’s 2023 Annual Report features brilliant videography and editing by local Brightpixl Studios. CPL’s Manager, Information Technology, recorded the voiceover narration in the Library’s recording studio at its reimagined seventh branch, the Margaret Dunn Valleywood (MDV) Collaboration Studio which opened last April.

“Caledon Public Library’s Board of Directors is incredibly thankful for the dedicated staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, as well as the support of our funders and residents of the Town of Caledon,” added Tony Maxwell, Library Board Chair. “Our successes in 2023 were made possible by you, this great community.”

The 2023 Annual Report video will be shared on all of CPL’s social media channels and can be permanently found on CPL’s YouTube channel. For information on what CPL has to offer you and your family, please visit caledon.library.on.ca.

Opening the Doors to Collections and Creativity with Caledon Public Library’s New Caledon East Branch

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Caledon, ON – With the official Grand Opening Celebration of the expanded Caledon East Community Complex, Caledon Public Library (CPL) celebrated the relocation of the Caledon East Branch to the delight of the community on September 16, 2023.

“Now found at 6215 Old Church Road in Caledon East, all can enjoy more space and full-service hours, within easy access to recreation amenities including a gym, walking track, pool and twin ice-pads.”, states Colleen Lipp, Caledon Public Library’s CEO & Chief Librarian. “As our community grows, we continue to effectively respond to the needs of our residents.”

The Caledon East Branch has collections for children, teens and adults, spaces for customers to bring their own device or to borrow a laptop for use in the branch at its bar seating, comfortable lounge chairs and tables, four small meeting rooms and a wonderful children’s area with plenty of floor space for programs. Not only does CPL have collections in the branch and online, library card holders can also borrow audiobooks, videogames, DVDs and graphic novels. Check out CPL’s Library of Things where members can take out guitars, dhol drums, GoPros, hotspots, park passes and so much more! Contrary to what many may think, there is no need for you to be quiet while in the Library. It’s a lively space where all can meet and chat with friends and do group work – though the branch does offer some study rooms for those who would like a little quiet.

“Libraries are no longer simply a place where you retrieve content, they are a place where you create and share your own content.”, states Tony Maxwell, Caledon Public Library Board Chair. “The inclusion of the new Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio truly reflects CPLs’ commitment to its values of innovation and creativity.”

The Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio is named after Caledon resident and world-renowned oil painter, filmmaker and explorer, known for his passionate portrayal of Canadian landscapes. Cory’s legacy includes encouraging artists to fearlessly follow their creative dreams, he urged his audience to connect with nature as a source of inspiration and self-discovery. The studio celebrates the marriage of art and innovation and provides the community with access to emerging technologies and maker tools including 3D printers, a laser cutter, a green screen, sewing and embroidery machines and tools to empower and encourage creativity.

“I’m so excited to see how this creative studio can inspire and house the next generation of artists and makers in Caledon, and I hope that Cory’s story and infectious optimism and sense of adventure will continue to inspire all who move through this space to explore both the natural beauty of Caledon and their own endless creative potential,” said Andie Trépanier, artist and eldest child of Cory Trépanier. “It’s so moving and meaningful to see Cory’s legacy featured in a communal space where his story can continue to inspire the next generation of creators.”

This Creativity Studio isn’t just a collection of tools; it’s a catalyst for innovation and artistic interpretation. It’s a space where a child’s curiosity can transform into a lifelong passion for science or art. It’s a place where people of all ages can learn new skills, from sewing to photography, from digital design to basic engineering principles, and apply them in meaningful ways. Ultimately, the Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio represents a commitment to the growth and development of our community. It’s an investment in our future, fostering a generation of thinkers, artists, creatives, and problem-solvers.

Caledon Public Library truly has something for everyone. Be sure to visit the new Caledon East library branch and the Cory Trépanier Creativity Studio.