Important Notice: Several branches adjusting hours starting May 6, 2024

Important Notice: Several branches adjusting hours starting May 6, 2024

Starting May 6, 2024, several branches of the Huron County Library will have new operating hours.

In 2023, branch hours were reviewed using feedback from the public and staff, along with library circulation statistics. As a result, the library is adjusting hours at certain branches to better align with community needs, to provide increased evening availability, and to ensure adequate staffing levels.

Below are the changes being made at the following branches (* shows hours that are changing):

Alice Munro Branch, Wingham: Monday, 12-8 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 12-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.*

Bayfield: Monday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*; Tuesday, 12-7 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*; Thursday, 12-7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*

Brussels: Monday, 3-7 p.m.*; Tuesday, 3-7 p.m.*; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, 3-7 p.m.*; Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hensall: Monday, closed; Tuesday, 3-7 p.m.*; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.*; Thursday, 3-7 p.m.*; Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.*; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.*

Howick: Monday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, 4-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 4-8 p.m.; Thursday, closed; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.*

Kirkton: Monday, closed*; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*; Wednesday, 3-7 p.m.*; Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.*; Friday, closed; Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Zurich: Monday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, 3-7 p.m.*; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursday, 3-7 p.m.*; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please note that all other branch hours will remain unchanged.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to better meet the needs of our communities. If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, email us at libraryadmin@huroncounty.ca. We value your feedback and are committed to providing a positive library experience for users.

Holds pick-up lockers now available at Bayfield and Goderich Branches

Holds pick-up lockers now available at Bayfield and Goderich Branches

The Huron County Library has made it easier for patrons to pick up their books with the addition of two new holds pick-up locations at the Bayfield and Goderich Branches.

The lockers will allow patrons 24/7 access to pick up their holds, making it convenient for patrons to get their books after regular branch hours. The locker at Goderich is located outside the front door by the book drop, and the locker at Bayfield is located in the post office next to the library.

HOW IT WORKS

To select one of the lockers as your pick-up location, simply place a hold on the item of your choice, and when prompted to choose your location, select either Goderich Holds Pickup Locker or Bayfield Holds Pickup Locker, and select the ‘Place Hold’ button. You will be notified when your item is available to pick up at the locker. To pick up your items, all you need to bring with you is your Huron County Library card!

Image of the library's online catalogue showing how to select one of the lockers as a pick-up location

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If you’d like to keep one of the lockers are your default pickup location, follow these steps:

 

  • Find an item you want to borrow
  • Click Place Hold
  • Choose the locker you want to be your pickup location from the drop down menu
  • Put a checkmark in the box next to the words: Enable Single-Click Holds
  • Click the Blue Place Hold button
  • Your preference will be saved until you decide to change locations.
Image of online catalogue showing to how set locker as default  pick up location

If you have the “Single-Click Holds” enabled on your account, and want to use one of the lockers as your pickup location instead of the branch, you will have to change the location option by following these steps:

 

  • Click on your Username (top Right-hand corner of screen)
  • Select On Hold (Under “My Borrowing”)
Image of setting up locker pickup on our online catalogue
  • Click the link “Single Click Holds is ON”
  • Choose the locker of your choice as your pickup location
  • Click Save
  • You’ll know you’re successful when you get the message of successfully choosing your pickup location.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to branch staff at Bayfield and Goderich.

 

Image of setting up locker pickup on our online catalogue
Respectful Subject Headings Project

Respectful Subject Headings Project

Since January 2021, the Huron County Library has been taking steps to update catalogue subject headings to be respectful and inclusive to all members of society. This project was spurred on by the social need for improved representation in library catalogues for Indigenous peoples, who are currently identified using colonial and offensive terms, which libraries across Canada have deemed unacceptable for further use. Libraries rely heavily on subject headings to provide access to information. When terminology is incorrect, or disrespectful, this affects the users both consciously and sub-consciously, often reinforcing stereotypes and bias.

The Library began receiving catalogue records from our material vendor, Library Services Centre, that included updated Indigenous subject headings that are based on the great work done by the Greater Victoria Public Library system, who shared their list of respectful headings compiled from a variety of sources including the University of Manitoba, the Association of Manitoba Archives, and through resources put out by the Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporation such as Indigenous Peoples: a Guide to Terminology, Usage Tips and Definitions for Indigenous peoples and subjects.

At the time, these headings were not the official authority subject headings put out by the Library of Congress or by Library and Archives Canada, however the demand was too great to wait for these institutions to come to an industry standard. Since then, Library and Archives Canada has begun extensive work on Canadian Subject Headings that will be used in our records as they come available.

In order to update headings already in our catalogue, Huron County Library joined a committee along with other members of the Ontario Library Consortium to work on a system for updating subject headings and have begun compiling a list of old headings within the catalogue, are finding valid new headings from the agreed upon sources, and then updating or records on a monthly basis. These ongoing updates aim to remove bias, improve access and look for new ways of describing material. While our records will continue to hold the official Library of Congress or Canadian Authority Heading, as well as the updated versions of the headings until the official authority records change, once complete, this work will enable a dynamic, multilingual set of terminologies applied to all Indigenous Peoples, places, heritage, tradition, and communities.

Huron County Library is a supporter of Indigenous Authors and of the First Nations Communities Read Program. Check out some of this year’s titles!