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With A Little Help From My Friends: Friends of Caledon Public Library donates $6,000 as CPL looks ahead to 2026

January 22, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Friends of Caledon Public Library donated $6,000, raised largely through their regular book sales, to the Caledon Public Library this week.

The Friends of CPL is a non-profit, volunteer organization that both supports and enhances library services in the community.

With the Friends donation, Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian, says that CPL will be able to undertake numerous initiatives.

CPL is now able to purchase nine Envoy Connect Players, supported by the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA).

These devices support users with disabilities with print, providing easy access to a wide range of digital reading materials, and make the library more inclusive for all members of the community.

They will be able to host gardening expert Frankie Flowers as the keynote speaker at their Seedy Saturday event planned for later this winter, and add loanable Maker equipment to the Library of Things, allowing customers to safely borrow and use these technologies in the comfort of their own home or business.

“These are things we would not be able to do without your help,” Lipp said to the Friends.

“We’re very grateful for what you’ve done,” she added. ”You are supporting us this year, and…the manner in which you’re doing it, you’re setting us up for a year of new projects that are not funded through our operating budget.”

But these aren’t the only exciting initiatives CPL is looking forward to this year.

CPL will host new Makerspace social clubs, such as Cricut Craft Social and Sew-cial Club, where people can gather, create and share their ideas.

They will also hold an Indigenous-led Cedar Salve Workshop and Sweetgrass Medicine Infusion workshops, Book Publishing 101 for those dreaming of becoming an author, and the Travel Diaries series, with upcoming talks on Costa Rica and the Highlands of Scotland.

When the Winter Olympics roll around, CPL will host programs for the entire family.

As they look toward the upcoming year, Jill Jambor, Manager, Communications and Cultural Development, shares numerous initiatives and goals CPL has set out for 2026.

This includes their March Break programs, which will feature a K-Pop Demon Hunters Party and a Wild Animal Kingdom Show.

They will continue to offer the Visiting Library Service for people who have difficulty making it to a library branch, working with Caledon Meals on Wheels to offer the service more broadly.

They will also continue their partnership with Caledon Community Services (CCS), where community members can visit branches and receive on-the-spot job search and employment help from CCS staff at Caledon East on Tuesdays, Bolton on Thursdays, and Southfields Village twice a month.

CPL this year will continue to offer personalized technology assistance to cardholders of all ages.

Jambor explains that, through the Tech 1‑on‑1 program launched in late 2025, customers can book one-on-one appointments with library staff to get help with devices, apps, online resources, and digital skills. 

“Whether it’s navigating eBooks or learning to use online tools, this service ensures that everyone can confidently access and use technology,” she says.

As they just launched extended access in 2025 at its Inglewood Branch, the Library’s Comprehensive Growth Plan recommends that extended access be made available at both the Caledon Village and Alton branches as well. 

Jambor explains that the Board’s proposed 2026 budget included the funds needed to expand this service to the Caledon Village Branch this year, but they were unable to secure the funding.

“It remains a priority, and we will continue our efforts to supplement the branches’ current staffed hours as part of future budgets,” she says.

CPL always has numerous events, programs, and activities running daily, so they encourage the community to check out their CPL Calendar, where there’s sure to be something for everyone.

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