People were reading more last year if the number of books borrowed from the Pettes Memorial Library is anything to go by. In 2021, the number of book loans increased by 4459 over the previous year going from 12,858 to 17,317. In 2019, before the pandemic struck, there were 22,482 books loans at Pettes. Interestingly, the library welcomed 273 new members during the 22 months of the pandemic. 

Despite the pandemic, the Pettes Memorial Library (PML), with its small core of employees and volunteers, continued to offer its members the possibility to choose books – on the phone and on their website – and return them at the door. 

This, combined with the contribution of the Lions Club volunteers, who deliver and pick up books at home, has allowed the PML to carry out its activities while being mindful of the health and safety of its personnel and its members.

All this is taking place amid a major fundraising campaign of $1.5M to finance the expansion of our 125-year old library. 

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