The Hastings Library has shared its location since 1990 in a large municipal building with a variety of municipal and community group offices. Municipal restructuring in 2001 and Covid-19 pressures in 2020 changed the way the building was used. In September 2024, the Municipality passed the management of the entire building over to the Library. The Library’s footprint hence expanded fourfold.
An exciting part of this expansion includes taking on the management of a large Hall and Community Kitchen on the lower level of the building. Historically, this space was rented out to community members and groups for meetings, meals, and events. The Library is excited to build on the usefulness of this space by further equipping it to offer cooking classes to children and adults.
This Community Kitchen hasn’t been updated since it was built in 1990. The original design of the kitchen included a bar area which we will no longer be using as Library policy prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the Library. We would like to upgrade some large appliances, tweak the layout of the bar area to include a space for laundry facilities and storage, and purchase some small appliances to use for cooking classes.
To elaborate, the improvements that the Hastings Branch Kitchen Refresh will include are as follows:
• 2 new double ovens
• 2 new vent hoods
• 1 stackable washer/dryer (to be used for kitchen linens, aprons, janitorial rags/mop heads/duster heads, tablecloths, and a variety of programing supplies such as puppets/dance scarves/costumes etc.)
• 1 new commercial dishwasher
• 1 new microwave
• An assortment of small appliances (immersion blenders, hot plates, hand mixers, a kettle)
• Built in pantry shelving
The Trent Hills Public Library – Hastings Branch serves as a hub to community activity in Hastings. A well-equipped and fully functioning kitchen will be easier and safer to maintain and use. This is important to the community because many community groups depend on the use of this space.
The community groups that currently use the kitchen space are:
• Hastings Historical Society (monthly presentations and refreshments served)
• Hastings Community Lunch (community lunch in support of the Hastings Roseneath Food Bank – last month 90 people in attendance)
• Facility Rentals such as the Hastings Public School for Christmas Dinner, Norwood Pentecostal Church's Alpha program - free dinner and discussion, Lakelands Public Health Unit for Healthy Schools Youth Summit - served lunch, Northumberland Food Policy Council - serve lunch
• A variety of Library programs - Hastings Social Circle (refreshments served), PD Day movies (we make popcorn), Cookbook Club (we share a potluck style meal)
• Hastings Children's Christmas Fest (refreshments served, cookie decorating)
• Bi-annual Mom 2 Mom Sale (refreshments served)
• Hastings EarlyON (light dinner program)
• Friends of the Hastings Library (Fundraisers)
The current state of the kitchen will not sustain this level of use for much longer. The stoves and dishwasher are not working well, and the expectation on staff to do laundry at home is unreasonable.
support
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Upgrading these kitchen facilities are critical to running valuable programs to support the community at large.
I support this project, and look forward to seeing more events to make use of the space!