Supporting seniors with continued learning

July 9, 2022 10:00 a.m.
City of Vaughan
​Vaughan Public Libraries offers programs and services for older adults


As the senior population in Vaughan grows, the City of Vaughan continues to enhance its services to support an aging population. Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) offers many programs and services older adults can take advantage of in-person at their local branches and online.

One of the programs is called Tech Intros, which provides one-on-one introductions to different digital resources, including Zoom, Brainfuse and LinkedIn. The courses take place at the Civic Centre Resource Library and interested participants can register online.

In addition to extensive program offerings, VPL does community outreach to help connect older citizens to library services. VPL staff visit local organizations and facilities to give an overview of services available at local branches and online.

Throughout the year, VPL also offers many supports and resources for people of all ages. Below are additional services citizens can take advantage of:  

VPL ONLINE

VPL’s fully digital library service is frequently enhanced to engage and educate residents of all ages. Available at vaughanpl.info/vpl_at_home, the web hub features a variety of free online resources, including eBooks and audiobooks, films and television programs, music streaming services, e-learning courses, bilingual materials and more. More information on online offerings available are as follows:

  • eBooks and audiobooks: VPL provides customers with free access to a number of digital platforms, including Hoopla, Overdrive and Tumblebooks. Titles include novels, animated picture books, non-fiction, graphic novels and more. Audiobooks can be played on a smartphone, computer or smart TV.
  • Films and television: Residents can borrow free digital videos with a library card. Gain access to Hoopla titles – available for instant streaming or temporary download – and watch on a smartphone, tablet or computer. VPL also provides access to Kanopy, which offers more than 30,000 critically acclaimed films. The selection ranges from new, popular titles and classics, to world cinema and art and indie, as well as top-rated documentaries.
  • Music: Stream more than 150,000 albums of classical, opera, jazz and world music with Naxos Music Library. Use a library card and PIN and start streaming today for free.
  • Online learning: LinkedIn Learning gives users free access to thousands of video tutorial courses with a focus on such areas as technology, software development, business skills, project management as well as creative skills like animation and video editing. The courses are taught by recognized industry experts who guide participants along in learning the skills for personal and professional development. Also available is Transparent Language – a fun way to learn a new language. The app aims to lock words and phrases into participants’ memories so they can recall them perfectly.
  • Newspapers: For customers who want to read newspapers in languages other than English and French, VPL provides access to Press Reader, a database which allows customers to access more than 4,000 newspapers from 100 countries in 60 languages.
  • French offerings: Through Cantook Station, customers have access to nearly 7,000 eBooks and 39 audiobooks in this collection. VPL customers can check out up to seven eBooks at a time and have up to three on hold.
  • Databases: Whether a customer is doing research for a business or an academic project or is interested in expanding their knowledge, VPL has a database that can help.
  • Kermode Education: With Kermode Education, users can evaluate websites for content accuracy and bias using cutting-edge page analysis technology, inquiry-based learning, and projects/lesson plans developed by educators.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi has been extended to reach the parking lot of VPL’s three resource libraries – Bathurst Clark Resource Library, Civic Centre Resource Library and Pierre Berton Resource Library. This allows those who need it to connect to Wi-Fi from the comfort of their vehicle at no cost.

LIVE CHAT

The live chat service on VPL’s website allows customers to converse with staff in real-time and receive immediate customer service. The live chat feature is visible as an interactive pop-up icon in the bottom right corner of vaughanpl.info.

ASK US

VPL has an online service to support its customers remotely. Ask Us is a virtual reference desk where VPL staff can help with customer inquiries by phone, email and social media. There are three ways to Ask Us:

STAY INFORMED

Residents can stay up to date with the latest news from VPL by:

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