Let’s Meet at the Library: a Community Gathering Space in Portland

I am a 14 year old volunteer with youth programs at Rideau Lakes Public Library. I think the meeting room will be useful for teens looking to collaborate and share ideas. I am personally looking forward to the fireside seating area as it gives local youth an inviting, safe place to feel cozy and comfortable as they meet, read or learn.

Before I became a Girl Guide leader. I spent many hours at the current site of the Portland Library. I always felt lucky to have a cozy inviting place to go while I waited for my daughters program to end. I look forward to spending time in the new location soon.

Having a library and gathering place right in my backyard is a dream come true. I have a lifelong passion for books. The library will provide an opportunity for engaging in emergent literacy behaviour in a meaningful and authentic way, so it will be ideal for families to create routines for weekly visits to engage in a space that envelops them in written language. Reading facilitates the development of key oral language and emergent literacy skills. Many years ago, I ran a story-telling hour which stimulated participation in oral communication and interest-based literacy activities and I hope this kind of program will be revived in our new space. I’m a long time resident of Portland, I’ve raised four avid readers and I wish to continue seeing the trend with all the young and old residents of Portland. A cosy, welcoming, gathering place is essential to the heart of our village where we can simply hang out with each other. This fabulous space will certainly ignite a passion for other lifelong readers.

On behalf of the RLPL Hooks and Books knitting and craft group, I would like to say that we are all looking forward to a wonderful new meeting space at the new Portland library. The meeting room we used to use at the existing Portland branch is small and we could really only use it when the library was closed to the public, as a group seated around the central table meant that other library patrons could not access the book shelves around the perimeter of the room. Since the pandemic we have been convening at another branch which was better able to accommodate social distancing when required, but Portland is a more central and convenient location for most of us. Our group is an important social connection for its members, most of whom are seniors, and all of whom value the local resources found in our public libraries.

I’m looking forward to visiting the new library in Portland. It will be a great addition to the community! As a former Rideau Lakes Public Library casual employee and a current member of the Library Board, I am quite familiar with the current Portland Branch location on Hwy 15. Despite the dedication of the library staff and the excellent book collection, there’s no opportunity for expansion and very little room for meetings and programs. That’s about to change! Portland is home to young people, seniors, individuals and families, and is a hub for seasonal residents who spend the warmer months in the area. The new community hall will house the purpose-built library, while adjacent to the library visitors will find a well-equipped, cozy meeting room for small groups. These facilities will provide an excellent springboard for all the services the library will feature. These include a comfortable space with reading material, both physical and electronic, and a variety of programs for learning, research and recreation, all packaged in an inclusive, accessible and welcoming environment.