Vaughan Public Libraries

Last updated
Vaughan Public Libraries
VPL logo.png
CivicCentreResourceLibraryVaughan3.jpg
Civic Centre Resource Library
Location Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Branches12
Collection
Items collectedbusiness directories, phone books, maps, government publications, books, periodicals, genealogy, local history,
Other information
Website http://www.vaughanpl.info/

Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) is a public library system consisting of 13 libraries and 1 express self-serve storefront in the city of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada. It has a collection of more than 551,000 items and serves nearly 1.9 million visitors a year. VPL has thirteen branch locations, including three resource libraries. The Bathurst Clark Resource Library opened in 1994. Pierre Berton Resource Library opened in 2004. The newest resource library, Civic Centre Resource Library, opened in May 2016, and houses VPL’s administration offices. [1] The latest branch, Carrville Library (located in the Carrville Community Centre), opened to the public on July 6, 2025. [2] VPL serves the growing multicultural community of Vaughan by offering collections in Arabic, Chinese, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Malayalam, Persian, Portuguese, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese, [3] in addition to French and English. [4]

Contents

The current Chief Executive Officer of Vaughan Public Libraries is Margie Singleton. [5]

Branches

Bathurst Clark Resource Library BathurstClarkResourceLibrary.jpg
Bathurst Clark Resource Library
Maple Library MapleLibrary.jpg
Maple Library

The branches of Vaughan Public Libraries are: [6]

BranchLocationCollection Size
Ansley Grove Library350 Ansley Grove Road, Woodbridge, ON L4L 3W440,000
Bathurst Clark Resource Library900 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, ON L4J 8C1110,000
Carrville Library655 Thomas Cook Avenue, Maple, ON L6A 4M218,000
Civic Centre Resource Library2191 Major MacKenzie Drive, Maple, ON L6A 4W2110,000
Dufferin Clark Library1441 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, ON L4J 7R435,000
Kleinburg Library10341 Islington Avenue N., Kleinburg, ON L0J 1C012,000
Mackenzie Health Vaughan Library3200 Major Mackenzie Drive West, Vaughan, ON L6A 4Z310,000
Maple Library10190 Keele Street, Maple, ON L6A 1G325,000
Pierre Berton Resource Library4921 Rutherford Road, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A675,000
Pleasant Ridge Library300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue, Thornhill, ON L4J 9B345,000
Vellore Village Library1 Villa Royale Avenue, Woodbridge, ON L4H 2Z735,000
VMC Library200 Apple Mill Road, Vaughan, ON L4K 0J820,000
VMC Express200 Apple Mill Road, Vaughan, ON L4K 0J81500
Woodbridge Library150 Woodbridge Avenue, Woodbridge, ON L4L 2S725,000

The Maple Library and the community centre in which it is located underwent renovations in June 2021 and reopened in April 2022. [7] Upgrades and additions include accessibility features, free Wi-Fi, and an outdoor reading garden. [7]

Membership

Free library memberships are available for those who live, work, attend school full-time or own property in the city of Vaughan. VPL also offer free membership to members of Aurora Public Library, Brampton Library, Caledon Public Library, King Township Public Library, Newmarket Public Library, Richmond Hill Public Library, and Markham Public Library. All other people may acquire a membership by paying an annual fee of $80.00. [8]

Services

Members of Vaughan Public Libraries have access to a diverse collection of resources including books, media, electronic databases, and other library services.

Borrowing privileges

Holdings are loaned to a patron for a period of time dependent on the type of item borrowed: [12]

Item TypesLoan Period
Books, Audiobooks, CDs, eBook Readers, Non-fiction DVDs & Blu-rays3 weeks
Bestselling Books and Audiobooks2 weeks
Magazines7 days
Fiction DVDs & Blu-rays7 days
iPads and eReaders7 days
Fast Track Books7 days
Fast Track Audio-Visual3 days

Special collections

Special collections at VPL include: [13]

Adult Basic Literacy – This is a collection for adult learners. It includes books, kits of books and audio, Internet links, and databases. Adult Basic Literacy collections are available at all locations.
Black Heritage - Vaughan Public Libraries' Black Heritage Collection was begun on February 25, 1989. It was the first of its kind in York Region, and is housed at Dufferin Clark Library.
Cinema Collection - This collection is housed at Pierre Berton Resource Library and Bathurst Clark Resource Library. It features the work of important directors from around the world and films not made by the major studios or with big Hollywood budgets. Award-winning films from world cinema festivals can be found in this collection.
English as a Second Language – This collection includes books, DVDs, and kits of books and audio or CD-ROM to meet the needs English Language learners. Of particular note are book chat sets of short novels at various learning levels, and TOEFL, IELTS, and other test preparation materials.
Government Documents – Housed at the Bathurst Clark Resource Library, the Government Documents collection offers access to Federal and Provincial Government documents, including statistics, policy and research papers, and other historical records.
Local Studies – This collection is especially useful for genealogists, those wishing to construct family trees, and local researchers needing access to current and historical municipal documents. The Local Studies Collection assists contains information concerning the history of Vaughan as a township, a town and finally a city. This collection now features VPL’s first digital local history project “Villages to City: An Oral History of Vaughan”. [14]
Professional Collection – The professional collection offers access to resources for public and school library professionals. Topics covered range from program planning, to collection development, to library management. The professional collection is housed at the Bathurst Clark Resource Library.

References

  1. Martin-Robbins, Adam (12 May 2016). "An exclusive tour of Vaughan's Civic Centre Resource Library". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  2. "Celebrate the opening of Carrville Community Centre, Library and District Park! | City of Vaughan". www.vaughan.ca. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  3. "World Languages". Vaughan Public Libraries. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  4. Chan, Hera (2009-12-08). "Libraries reach newcomers". Multimedia Nova Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-05.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Executive Management Team". Vaughan Public Libraries. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  6. "Libraries - Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughanpl.info. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 Riedner, Heidi (17 April 2022). "Vaughan's Maple Library and Community Centre reopens after extensive renovations". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. "Membership - Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughanpl.info. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  9. "Email Librarian - Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughanpl.info. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  10. "Databases - Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughanpl.info. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  11. "Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughan Public Libraries. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  12. "Loan Periods - Vaughan Public Libraries". Vaughanpl.info. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  13. "Special Collections". Vaughan Public Libraries. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009.
  14. "Local Studies". Vaughan Public Libraries. Retrieved July 29, 2019.