Our five fun facts for this week include more on our trailblazing ways, packrat tendencies, and awkward communication. It’s just another day at the office.
Fun Fact #110:
TPL currently houses around 88,000 items. We used this stat during a recent class tour where we asked students to guess this number. They started with some random estimates like 1,000 and 1,000,000, eventually narrowing it down to a guess of 50,000 and a guess of 100,000. At that point, we said those were very good guesses because the correct answer was “around 88,000 items.” That was to be the answer/end of it. Unfortunately, we were not at all on the same page and students continued to guess a more specific number around 88,000. They tried 90,0001, they tried 87,002 – determined to home in on an EXACT digit. We just kept saying things like, “No no, it’s just AROUND 88,000. That’s the answer.” Eventually, we all just moved on from that communication fail, somewhat disappointed and utterly perplexed.
Fun Fact #109:
Approximately 80 years of the Thorold Post is available to view using our microfilm reader, with issues dating back to June 4, 1875 – 20 years before the library even existed. Equipment is available during our regular hours of operation and you can even print what you find for a nominal fee. We also have very flaky and decidedly off-white (yet still very readable) hard copies of the Thorold News starting in the mid-50s. There is no charge to access any of these resources and we actually get pretty excited when a would-be researcher gives us reason to bust into the old microfilm cabinet. It’s not an everyday occurrence and there’s a whole key and everything.
Fun Fact #108:
TPL was one of the first libraries in the region to partner with Therapy Tails Ontario (TTO). Therapy Tails is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that promotes literacy, companionship, and animal therapy through travelling visits with specially-trained pups and their human companions. During our sessions, participants can practice their reading/social skills in a comfortable and supportive environment, or just sit on the floor the whole time and comment on how cute everyone is. That’s pretty much how we spend the hour. Over the years, the program has grown in popularity with schools, nursing homes, and, of course, libraries. By now, you’re probably familiar with our trendsetting ways, so we won’t get into that bit of it too much right now. TTO visits us on the first Saturday of the month in the Children’s Reading Circle. We usually have two or three dogs per session, and the program is free for all ages.
Fun Fact #107:
While some patrons are under the impression that you need to renew your library card the same way you would a driver’s license, we only update your info in our computers once per year using a valid piece of ID. You can essentially keep the same physical card your entire life. The wear and tear is all part of the deal for a dedicated library user, and actually makes you look cool. To us, anyway. We may have just permanently turned you off of wear and tear. And for this, we apologize. There are currently two main library card looks in rotation: the older simple green number and the newer version with our building’s pic on the front. Spoiler: we are in the process of planning a special edition TPL 125 card to make available in 2020.
Fun Fact #106:
On Monday, Feb. 5, 1990, the Thorold News ran a piece titled, Videos Available at Thorold Library. And it really dated itself by listing some of our most popular patron rentals, which at that time included Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, The Beach Boys, Berenstain Bears and the Truth, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The winner of Most Popular Video was Walt Disney’s Lady and the Tramp (they made the point of putting “Walt” in there, which isn’t really the norm anymore, but we’ll honour it). At that point, the film had been checked out a whopping 80 times. Which, while impressive, may not fully warrant a column anymore. If we tried just submitting a piece that said “_____ is popular,” they may send us back to the drawing board. But that’s okay. We prefer to wow you with a really, really long list of fun facts. Hopefully, it’s working.
