Next up - Elmvale Farmers Market Book Booth!
Starts June 11 - 3 to 7 PM
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Annual General Meeting Minutes
Mon. March 23, 2026
1. Welcome from Judy Waher. Ten individuals were in attendance, including the Executive. The meeting started at 5:00pm.
2. Friends of Springwater Public Library Overview was presented. 2025 was a strong year for FOSPL with a nice scope of activities. FOSPL continues to refine their practices to strengthen the efficacy of the charity.
3. Cheque Presentation: FOSPL presented a check to the Springwater Library for the amount of $3,850. This was the 2nd donation, thus far, from the Friends. The recent donation enabled a library staff member to attend the OLA conference in Toronto; supported the updating of lending kits; and the purchase of stacking chairs. A photo was taken of the cheque presentation, to be shared on social media.
4. Financial Report: The financial report was delivered by Treasurer, Donna Carrick.
a) YTD finances were positive. Expenses for 2025 totaled $1,390. Revenue was $11,753.
b) The budget for 2026 is conservative with expenses projected at $1,640 and revenue projected at $11,950.
5. Membership drive: Membership numbers are static. The goal of increasing membership is to make more connections in order to increase community support for the Springwater Library. The membership process will be reviewed and updated following further discussions. Some ideas that were shared included: continuation with early access to book sales, lifetime membership, honorary membership for silent auction purchasers, and honorary corporate membership for silent auction donors.
6. We Lend a Hand Program: On Friday May 22, 2026, Springwater Library will host a showing of the documentary We Lend a Hand: The Forgotten Story of the Ontario Farmerette. This film tells the story of 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms, between 1941 and 1952. These women worked to ensure critical food production during this tumultuous time. There are a number of local community groups supporting this event. There will be two showings at the Elmvale Community Hall, 1:00pm for students and 7:00pm for all. A motion was presented that FOSPL provide funds to subsidize the student admission up to $1,200. The motion was passed.
7. Library Report: The Library Report was delivered by CEO, Jodie Delgado. 2025 saw many positive events: new paint and lights; new Monday morning hours in Elmvale and Midhurst; a new website; first staff training day; and Springwater Library won Georgian Bay Reads with Estates Large and Small by Ray Robertson. Unfortunately, 2025 also saw a significant ice storm that flooded the lower level of the Elmvale branch.
Upcoming Library events include: AI Literacy (April); Battle of the Books (May), We Lend a Hand: The Forgotten Story of the Ontario Farmerette (May); and the Summer Reading Program. Springwater Library is thrilled to be hosting Georgian Bay Reads (Oct) and is seeking nominations for books.
The 2026 Springwater Library budget was presented and all requests were approved. A new manager of Public Services/Deputy CFO will start in April. A Community Librarian position (PT) is to be hired in late April/early May.
Jodie thanked FOSPL for their continued support of the Springwater Library.
8. Outreach and Fundraising events: Last year’s outreach and fundraising events were successful and will continue in 2026.
a) Maple Syrup Festival: Due to last year’s flooding of the Elmvale Library's lower level, the book sale was moved outdoors. This year the book sale will return to the lower level of the Elmvale Branch. FOSPL members will get early access to the sale.
b) Farmers’ Market Booth: The Farmers’ Market will run from Thursday June 11th to Aug 27th from 3-7pm. FOSPL's new banner, generously donated by Donna Kenwell, and logo tablecloth and shelving, to be purchased from the funds donated from The Maple Syrup Committee, will be exciting additions to the booth.
c) Silent Auction: The 2025 Silent Auction was a hard earned success. FOSPL continues to need more people to work in this event. Storage space at the Elmvale Branch has been requested.
Other potential fundraisers were briefly discussed such as: a garden tour (possibly partner with EDGE), Victorian Tea, and a documentary about Ukraine (possibly partner with Springwater Township culture/heritage with a viewing at EDHS).
Additional outreach events include: Midhurst Autumnfest (Sept 26), Anten Mills Fall Event (Sept 26), Elmvale Fall Fair (Oct 9th and 10th) Santa Claus Parades Elmvale (early Dec.) and Anten Mills (mid. Dec.), and the Elmvale Tree lighting (late Nov.).
9. Advocacy Activity Update: This is a municipal election year (Oct 26). Jodie Delgado explained that libraries are non-partisan. FOSPL can be more active, possibly endorsing “Library Friendly Candidates.” The Library Board turns over with each municipal election.
10. Other Business: A call for nominations for executive positions was made. No nominations were received. The following individuals were acclaimed for the 2026-2027 term: Donna Kenwell - President, Judy Waher- Vice President, Donna Carrick-Treasurer, and Jennifer Fleming- Secretary.
11. Next Meeting: Third week in September.
12. Adjournment 6:40 pm
We were at the fall events in Midhurst and Anten Mills Sep. 27
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Our Mission
Supporting the Springwater Public Library through promotion, advocacy, and fundraising
Springwater Public Library Press Release – June 1, 2024
I Love the Springwater Public Library? Show your support by purchasing a button
Springwater, Ontario – A newly formed group, the Friends of Springwater Public Library, have started a campaign to not just demonstrate how the community loves it local libraries, but also to raise funds.
The “I love Springwater Public Library” campaign kicked off at the Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival in April by selling buttons that anyone can purchase for $5.
“Our group loves our local library and we wanted to do something that would allow others to show their support and at the same time raise funds which will support the development of the new library in Midhurst as part of the Springwater Township Community Hub as well as supporting programs and material,” says Donna Kenwell, chair of the group. “Now, more than ever, we want to demonstrate the incredible resource the three branches of the library are to this community.”
The buttons are on sale at the three library branches – Elmvale, Midhurst and Minesing – during operating hours as well as events in the community such as the Elmvale Farmers’ Market.
Advocacy Update
An Open Letter to Council regarding March 20, 2024 Council Meeting:
I attended the Mar. 21/24 Council and was dismayed by the reaction some members of Council had to the presentation by the Library Board Chair and Vice-Chair. This presentation was a direct result of the criticism one member of Council expressed about the management of the Library (Board and CEO). Those comments were made at the Feb. 21/24 Council Meeting.
The fact that these unwarranted comments were made in public session is unconscionable. As a past member of the Library Board, I am appalled at this Council’s refusal to acknowledge provincial legislation, to listen to explanations of the process under which the Library operates, to disregard their own procedures (about holding discussions of personnel matters in closed session) and the utter distain for volunteers (Councillor Fisher asked how the Library Board could consider themselves volunteers since they receive an honorarium)
All appointees to Springwater Council committees receive an honorarium, as do our local appointees to other service providers (such as the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority), including our ‘volunteer’ firefighters. Library Board members cannot claim mileage to meetings, nor incur any other expenses without the prior approval of the Board – the Library Board’s $40 per meeting honorarium falls well below minimum wage just for time spent at a monthly meeting, let alone anytime spent on other Board business. The amount of the honorarium has not been changed since 1990, to the best of my knowledge.
The comment Councillor Fisher then made about the CEO’s credit card expenditure at the Royal York Hotel was another cheap shot. When the Library received credit card privileges from the Township, it was so that members were not out-of-pocket for expenses incurred while on Library business. The bill in question was for accommodations and parking for attending the recent Ontario Library Association annual conference. The bill would have been significantly larger had reservations been made at the hotel attached to the conference venue. I notice in the same cheque and credit card register that there were many similar expenses for Township staff attending other conferences, yet no disparaging comments were made about those costs.
The Board’s agendas and minutes are available on the Library website. The reporting in the minutes echoes Council’s standard. As such, there is no verbatim recording of individual conversation, nor withholding of pertinent information. In the case of requested revisions by the board, there would be a recording of amendments to motions. There are no ‘shadow meetings’ as Councillor Fisher suggested.
The only direct question asked after the presentation was for Township staff to review the Public Libraries Act with regard to contracting out of library services.
My questions for Council are:
Will there be an apology to the Library Board and CEO for the slanderous comments made by Councillor Fisher on Mar. 20/24?
Will there be any discipline for the comments he also made at the Feb. 21/24 meeting?
Will Council review their protocol for moving into Closed Session? It is my understanding that Council meets in Closed Session to review real estate issues, to be updated on contract negotiations, or where comments are made about identifiable personnel. Who at Council – the Mayor, the CAO or the Clerk, has the authority to ‘kill the microphone’ when such comments are made in public session?
Will Council review their protocol for interacting with their Service Agencies? With a new Police Services Board coming into effect, it seems an opportune time to re-examine what authority Council may or may not have with those Service Agencies in budget deliberations and personnel matters.
Donna Kenwell B.A., M.L.S.
1407 Flos Rd. 8W
Elmvale ON L0L 1P0
705-322-5344 (home)
705-734-5674 (cell)