Brampton Library Blog

Written by Olivia Olford Emerging Technologies Librarian

Category: Blog

Published: 12 December 2023

Your Brampton Library membership offers free access to a wide range of online resources for all ages and interests. As a responsible service provider, we are constantly evaluating our purchasing decisions.  

Due to low usage and a high cost per use, along with concerns around information accuracy and platform quality, access to Scott’s Directories online will no longer be offered by Brampton Library. The last day to use Scott’s Directories online is December 31, 2023. 

The following resources provide business information on Canadian companies:

1. The City of Brampton’s GeoHub is an open data resource that maintains and regularly updates local business directories, including the Brampton Business Directory and Brampton Black Business Directory.
2. Search the Ontario Business registry online to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit organization. 
3. Search for suppliers and competitors using directories of Canadian companies maintained and provided by the Government of Canada:
• Find businesses within Canada by name using Canada's business registries. 
• Find a list of companies that import goods into Canada by product, city or country of origin using the Canadian importers database. 
4. Find information on specific industries and companies in Canada
• Use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2022 Version 1.0 to identify a NAICS code for your industry of interest.
• Search a NAICS code in the Canadian Industry Statistics (CIS) database. The CIS database uses recent data from Statistics Canada to provide insight on industry trends and financial information, such as GDP, labour productivity, manufacturing, and trade data.

If you need assistance, or would like to share your feedback, please call 905-793-4636 or use our Ask a question feature.

Written by Todd Kyle, Chief Executive Officer

Category: Blog

Published: 01 August 2023

As of today (August 1) at 9pm, Brampton Library’s Chinguacousy Branch in the Brampton Civic Centre is set to close its doors forever. This closure evokes both sadness and optimism in me.

As most of you know, the reason for the closure is that the Civic Centre will be the location for the new School of Medicine that Toronto Metropolitan University is set to open in 2025. The Library, as a tenant in the building, was given six months’ notice in February to vacate. While the new medical school is good news for Brampton’s future, the move has put the Library in a difficult position. 

There has been a library in the Civic Centre since it opened as Chinguacousy Township’s City Hall and cultural centre in 1972. Merging with Brampton Library when the City of Brampton was created in 1974, the branch quickly became the flagship of our system, hosting an incredible array of cutting-edge programs and services and forging partnerships with community organizations located in the same building. In 2017 the branch unveiled a major renovation that included new computer labs, a makerspace and a recording studio. It was truly Bramalea’s community hub.

We did not have much time to search for a new location, but with the support of the City, we are relocating the branch in the short term to the Ski Chalet in Chinguacousy Park, a smaller but modern and airy building that will offer most of the same services, albeit on a smaller scale. Chinguacousy in the Park will open very soon, as we are only awaiting occupancy permission to close out the building permit and make sure everything is safe. But we know from your feedback that the location is less than ideal, not being as accessible on foot or by transit as the Civic Centre. 

So, why am I optimistic about the situation? Firstly, I have been blown away by the outpouring of support and concern from our users, who have told us over and over again how important the library has been to their success. Secondly, we are embarking on a process to explore options for a future permanent location for the branch, either by renovating an existing building or constructing a new one. The process will take some time, but in the interim we will still be able to serve the Bramalea area from the Ski Chalet. Tonight, as the last Civic Centre library users log out of their computers and check out their items, is the end of one era and the start of a new one. I hope you’ll join us on the ride. 

Written by Todd Kyle

Category: Blog

Published: 29 September 2023

I am thrilled to invite you to participate in the Library’s exciting lineup of programs and events for Canadian Library Month in October. 

The third week of the month is also Ontario Public Library Week and this year’s theme is Libraries for Life/Biblios pour la vie. To show how important our customers are, the Library’s Customer Appreciation Week October 14-22 will feature a book sale at every branch on October 14 and 15, followed by a scavenger hunt activity on October 21 and 22 where you can complete a series of activities for a chance to win a Brampton Library swag bag. To top it off, you can enter a draw to win one of two iPads and 8 $100 Bramalea city Centre gift cards by completing our survey.

October is also the month of our very popular TechTober celebration - a series of programs that focus on technology (or have a technological twist). Join us to explore the opportunities and potential that technology can offer. We have an incredible lineup of events featuring partners and guest speakers who will engage and empower audiences by way of digital literacy, hands-on learning, and community building experiences.

And if that wasn’t enough, we are joining libraries across North America to mark TeenTober. Throughout the month we will be posting Teen Talks videos about the topics teen creators in Brampton are passionate about, on Instagram and Facebook, culminating in an in person event on October 26 from 6 -7 pm at Cyril Clark branch. 

Thank you for your support of Brampton Library and help us spread the word!

Written by Todd Kyle, Chief Executive Officer

Category: Blog

Published: 05 June 2023

Brampton Library’s mission is to build an inclusive community by inspiring learning, literacy, and social cohesion, and what better way than to join your fellow community members in one of our summer clubs for kids, teens, and adults!

Regardless of your age, we have a club for you this summer, with challenges and chances to win prizes, as you read, play, and explore.

Our Brampton Brain Game encourages children from birth to age 12 to learn through play. Activity sheets are segmented by age, with challenges for children from 0 - 2, 3 - 5 and 6 - 12.

Teen Summer Reading Club invites participants between the ages of 13 and 18 to log their reading, write book reviews, complete online challenges and virtual escape rooms, and new for 2023, engage with the Battle of the Books, a bracket-style tournament on our Instagram page.

Adult Summer Reading Club offers great programs, a log to keep track of your reading and enter to win prizes, or simply unwind with a book in your favourite reading spot.

As in past years, we are extremely grateful to the Brampton Real Estate Board for their generous donation of funds for the purchase of our grand prizes.

Online registration is open now until September 1, 2023. Learn more at bramptonlibrary.ca, or speak with staff in any of our branches.