By Gazette Staff
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Fall is the season of change, the perfect time to share some of the new and exciting initiatives we’ve been working on in response to community feedback. Earlier this year, we received valuable input from more than 4,600 people through our Customer Satisfaction Survey—thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their input to help shape the future of the library!
Responding to Your Needs
In the survey, we heard feedback on three key areas: in-person spaces, demand for books in all formats, and programs and events. Here are some highlights of your feedback and how we’re responding:
More private space for collaboration and quiet work
In our surveys from last year and this year, we heard from many customers that they wanted more private space for quiet work or group collaborations. In response, we recently introduced online booking for BPL’s free meeting rooms and workspaces!
With the opening of our relocated New Appleby Branch earlier this month, we’re also able to offer expanded seating and three additional free bookable meeting rooms.
More to borrow
Burlington loves to read! Similar to last year, your survey comments show a demand for print, digital, and audiobooks, as well as concerns about longer wait times. We hear you and are refining our processes and borrowing parameters to manage demand for popular items. We’re continually adding more titles to borrow—last year, we added 700,000 eBooks on Hoopla and this year, Milton Public Library was added to our More to Borrow partnership, meaning customers can now access over 350,000 digital titles through OverDrive/Libby.
Over the past year, the cost of licensing eBooks and eAudiobooks and purchasing print material has continued to increase due to global economic factors, and we have to spend more to get the same amount. This is a long-term challenge that we will continue to address through advocacy, partnerships, and promotion strategies.
More programs and maker spaces
We heard that customers are seeking more frequent and diverse programs for a variety of ages and interests. This year, we expanded our maker offerings to include a MakerStation at Alton Branch and MakerStudio focused on video and audio at New Appleby Branch. We’ve also added new programs such as Tech Connect for older adults, family board game drop-ins, and a new drop-in program for teens.
Looking Ahead
We were thrilled to see that 96% of survey respondents believe the library improves the well-being of the community as a whole. Connecting the community with one another and the information and resources they need is at the core of what we do, and the foundation for our work ahead on our upcoming 2026-27 Strategic Plan. Thank you again to everyone who provided their input. We look forward to sharing our plan with you later this fall!
Leave a Reply