Fresh And Bright, Hartington Branch Re-Opens

Jeff Green | Nov 14, 2013

The Hartington branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) is a small rural branch located in the Princess Margaret Building on Road 38. A library restructuring report, written several years ago, called for the branch to be closed and replaced by a larger branch in nearby Verona. However, the Township of South Frontenac, which is responsible for library facilities, while the KFPL handles operations, built a library in Sydenham to augment the branches in Hartington and Storrington and has no plans to build one in Verona.

And now, thanks to a $35,000 Trillium Foundation grant and some money from the township, the Hartington Branch has been re-energized.

Laura Carter, manager of branch operations with KFPL, described how the branch, which was closed for the month of October, has been brightened. It has all new shelving, which is not as tall, giving much needed brightness to the room. The room has also been painted; new flooring has been installed, and two new public access computers have replaced one old one. Comfortable chairs, fitted with laptop shelves, have been loaned to the branch from the Central Branch in Kingston because the Hartington chairs are on order. A small room adjacent to the main room, has been outfitted as a media room with magazines, DVDs and CDs.

The Hartington branch is also the first location in the 16- branch library to have an express service for DVDs. Select copies of a selection of popular DVDs, mostly recent movie releases, which can take a long time to access if put on hold at the branch or through the Internet ordering system the library offers, are available only through the branch and cannot be put on hold.

“Some of these popular movies can take months to get on hold, so people can come to the branch and get them on a first-come, first-served basis,” said Laura Carter, “it’s something we have already done in all the branches with books, but this is the first location for DVDs.”

The book return at the branch has also been moved to the south end of the building, where it can be reached from the outside, a more accessible location. Previously the book return was inside the building

When the branch opened at 1pm on Monday, patrons starting streaming in. Most did a double take when they entered the room.

“It is really wonderful that this has happened,” said Katia Jacobs, who operates the branch, “everything is so much better and will be better for the public to use.”

The message Jacobs is most keen to get out to patrons of the Hartington branch is there is now no need to travel to Sydenham or into Kingston to pick up holds, browse the stacks, or to order materials in person.

The Hartington branch is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-5 and 6-8 and Saturdays from 1-4.